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How Pretoria wages war on Africa by Aziz Pahad

The apartheid regime has embarked on a the 1982 Defence White Paper Magnus concerted and co-ordinated campaign of Malan (Minister of Defence) stated that: economic, political and military destutili­ "It is alarming that more and more sophis­ sation in Southern Africa. The gravity of ticated weapons are pouring into the situation is reflected by the communique neighbouring countries" and that "serious of the heads of Governments of the Front consideration should now be given to the Line States (meeting in Maputo, March possibility of conventional warfare." 1982) which noted that "The invasion and Prime Minister Botha gave some military aggression, the utilisation of armed indication of South Africa's intentions bandits and agents, the acts of sabotage and when he stated that "We are moving more economic blackmail, the massive and and more in the direction in which the state subversive propaganda campaigns conducted of Israel has already been since 1948," by South Africa are proof that there is and went on to warn that "South Africa's currently an undeclared war situation sphere of influence" extends to all its engendered and supported by South Africa." neighbours in Southern Africa. It is becoming increasingly clear that Pik Botha (Foreign Minister) spelt this the regime is developing a massive capacity out more blatantly when he arrogantly not only to hold back the revolutionary declared that "Hie existence of a ring of advances in South Africa and Namibia but marxist states ... around South Africa was also to subvert and undermine the gains inimical to South Africa's interests. '* This already achieved in Southern Africa. The situation he said, could not be tolerated. use of conventional war is becoming a After announcing that South Africa central component of this regional strategy. would have to open up a "second front", Using the 'big lie' techniques of Goebbels Magnus Malan issued a warning that the they justify their aggression by claiming "slogan in Africa should be: Obtain that the neighbouring countries pose a communist assistance and terrorist organisa­ military threat to them. In the preface to tions to launch so called liberation 21 i#W

has production of minerals we all must It is in South Africa that the west's have." most important regional interests are at The Reagan nominee to become head stake - both our tangible economic and of the US Aims Control and Disarmament strategic interests and also our political Agency, Kenneth Adelman (presently and moral interests in non-violent change". deputy to Jean Kirkpa trick that other great On taking office, Reagan said, "Can we 'human rights campaigner* and 'freedom abandon a country which has stood with us fighter*, and friend of the US and South in every war we have fought, a country that African intelligence services) is reported to strategically is essential to the free world? It have said that if South Africa acquired movements and the end result is perish in nuclear anti-submarine weapons, these could misery." be helpful to the west in protecting the Cape South Africa is imposing its own version shipping route. He went on to say that such of the Monroe doctrine. This aggressive weapons could be turned into nuclear militarist strategy has been intensified since bombs to deter a land attack. the defeat of Portuguese colonialism and Given such open and brazen support the attempts to establish genuine people's by the Reagan administration it is hardly democracies, leading to the socialist trans­ surprising that the South African 1982 formation of Angola and Mozambique; since the winning of independence in Defence White Paper concluded that "there Zimbabwe; since the attempts by the Front are encouraging signs that the USA is once line States to break out of the economic again prepared to play an active role as stranglehold of South Africa through the leader of the West." For South Africa, SADCC, and as a result of the intensified this has meant extensive cooperation in the resistance in South Africa and Namibia. exchange of intelligence and military personnel and information. There has been Imperialist Collaboration a gradual relaxation of the ban on military South Africa's reactionary role by and and military-related equipment from the large coincides with imperialist strategy US - for example, the Cyber 75 variety of for world domination and exploitation. computers, which can be used to model The Reagan administration, under the nuclear explosions, has been supplied smokescreen of anti-communism, anti- to Armscor or its subsidiaries, and US sovietism and "anti-terrorism", has launched broken played a key role in helping South a world wide counter-revolutionary Africa buy almost 100 tons of enriched offensive, and sees the apartheid regime as uranium. Export credit guarantees have the instrument for achieving its global been resumed by the US government, and strategy on the African continent. In 1980 the Americans were largely responsible for Crocker (U.S. Assistant Secretary of State the granting of a 1.2 billion dollar loan to for African Affairs) concluded that, South Africa from the IMF in 1982. In "Washington could no longer simply enjoy Namibia the USA is spearheading attempts its varied interests in Southern Africa. It to halt the process of liberation. American would have to work actively to pre-empt subterfuges were revealed when, in a secret Soviet-backed revolutionary change.** He memorandum to Haig in 1981, Crocker later went on to say that the "American stated that racist South Africans must be stance towards the Republic of South told of the US willingness to open up a Africa is inevitably the centrepiece of our new chapter in their relationship, based regional policy... South Africa is by any upon strategic reality and South Africa's definition an important regional power, position in that reality. He went on to say and it is by far the most important country that the Namibian problem was a primary 22 in the Southern African region. obstacle to this new relationship, and that 'SOUTH AFRICA HAS PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE NV3ST SIGNIFICANT STABILIZING FACTORS IN TMe RGfrtOfV'- fAAR*s sreyrv- SAAMMSSAPOK

"we are willing to work with them to find for imperialist global strategy, and an internationally acceptable settlement specifically for subversion, exploitation which will not harm their interests." and destabilisation of the African This active and open collaboration of continent; the Reagan-Thatcher administrations has * limit support given to the ANC and undoubtedly encouraged the terrorist use of SWAPO. their muscle, and is turning Southern Africa * physically eliminate the ANC and into one of the most critical flashpoints SWAPO; in international politics. In the last few yean there has been a steady escalation in the regime's use of South African aggression affects virtually economic sabotage and terrorism, the whole of Southern Africa, and even commando raids and large scale military farther afield, as the attempted coup in the invasions, the strategic objectives being to: Seychelles and the bombing of the ANC office in London showed. A brief look will * maintain dominance of the region and give some indication of the nature and prevent any socio-economic changes; extent of this, and the serious challenge confronting not only the peoples of * maintain racist South Africa as a base 23 Southern Africa but the entire international Angola had once again obliged us to divert community. a great part of our manpower, material and financial resources to strengthening our Economic pressure defence capability, thereby jeopardising a The colonial legacy has resulted in the fact number of projected development targets." that the economies of almost all countries Conservative estimates show that since in the region are interlinked with that of 1975 the losses Angola suffered because of South Africa. South Africa's dominant South African aggression amounted to a position in this relationship has been used staggering sum of 10 billion dollars. extensively to put pressure on these states. Other consequences, in terms of human In 1981 at a very crucial moment, suffering , ill health, loss of schooling, mal­ racist South Africa unilaterally terminated nutrition, unemployment, displacement of a preferential trade agreement (dating back millions, cannot be calculated fully. to 1964) with Zimbabwe. It simultaneously recalled about 80 railway trucks and diesel Military aggression engines on long term loan to Zimbabwe Since the mid 60's the apartheid regime has Railways (this had a disastrous effect on the adopted a highly aggressive and transport of the maize harvest). interventionist policy towards its Recently the racists warned Lesotho neighbours. that unless she toed the line the job oppor­ Between 1967 and 197S it was tunities for Lesotho citizens in South estimated that over 4000 South African Africa would be jeopardized (it is estimated troops supported by armoured cars, heli­ that at present 40% of Lesotho's GNP copters and planes were actively involved comes from wages earned by Lesotho in Zimbabwe. There were over 1000 South citizens working in South Africa). African troops involved with the Portuguese However, the most dangerous disruption in Mozambique and in 1969 under a has been through the systematic destruction Portuguese-South African agreement a joint of the socio-economic structures. Roads, command system was established in Angola railways, bridges, electric and water supplies, to direct South African air reconnaissance oil refineries and depots, factories, dams and troop transport activities against and agricultural projects have been attacked Namibia and MPLA guerrillas. and destroyed. To cite but a few examples: However a new dimension was added The road, rail and oil pipeline in 1975 when over 6000 South African connection between Zambia and Mozam­ troops and foreign mercenaries invaded bique is continuously attacked. In October Angola in a last deperate attempt to prevent 1981 traffic between the the two countries MPLA from coming to power and to instal was halted when the road and rail bridges UNITA in power. The CIA played a major over the Pungwe River were sabotaged. role in initiating and underwriting this In November 1981 the port of Beira campaign. USA direct and open intervent­ was closed when 10 out of the 12 naviga­ ion was not possible at this stage because tional buoys were sabotaged. of the post-Vietnam mood of the American In January 1983 a major dam in Angola people and the disarray and confusion was sabotaged, causing extensive flooding within the military industrial complex, and damage to a vital agricultural area. arising from the Watergate affair. The dirty The long term effects on the consoli­ work had therefore to be spearheaded by dation of independence and the process of South Africa with the assistance of mercena­ development cannot be overestimated. The ries and UNITA and FNLA bandits. Angolan President said in his 1983 message: This invasion of Angola by 3 South 24 "South Africa's undeclared war against African armoured columns, code named :

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10 Eland armoured-cars on the road to the operational area (mid 1982) "Zulu", "Foxbat" and "Orange," swept The scope and intensity of this "scorched northwards capturing town after town. earth" policy has increased yearly. From Within a short time they occupied the whole 1976 to 1979 there were 291 military of the centre of Angola, the northern­ attacks against Angola; during 1980 there most line of occupation stretching from were 1 100 acts of aggression; in the first Lobito to the capital of the Moxico Province 6 months of 1981 there were over 650 in the east. acts of aggression including: TTic invading forces reached within a few miles of Luanda. In response to the 472 reconnaissance flights Angolans1 urgent appeal for assistance, 22 air attacks Cuba and the Soviet Union reacted with 111 helicopter-borne landings unparalleled internationalist manpower and 4 paratroop landings logistical support; further assistance came 2 artillery bombardments from other socialist countries and some 15 ground reconnaissance incursions third world countries. 5 ground attacks Eight months after the invasion started. 30 bombing raids South Africa and its surrogates were forced out of Angola. Since then the South Worse was to come. In August 1981, follow­ Africans have conducted a constant and ing a massive troops build-up of over 45 000 systematic campaign of bombing raids, on the Namibian border, the racists launched violations of Angolan air space, border "Operation Protea". This involved 11 000 provocations, infantry attacks, artillery troops, 36 centurion tanks, 70 armoured shelling and minelaying. cars, 200 troop transporters, heavy artillery It is estimated that from 1976 to and long range missiles, supported by 90 1979 the South Africans were responsible aircraft and helicopters. for: Today the invaders are still occupying an estimated 50 000 sq. kilometres of 193 mine laying operations Angolan territory. This sad and tragic 7 artillery bombardments story is repeated in all other neighbouring 25 ground attacks countries. For example in November 1982, 21 ground infiltrations Mozambique alerted the United Nations 25 to the fact that the racists were massing attack on the Koeberg nuclear plant, one thousands of troops on the border and that of South Africa's most carefully guarded a full scale military invasion was imminent. installations, has sown panic in the ranks of There is Kittle doubt that this timely warning the enemy. and international action temporarily, at The enemy believes that the "next least,, halted the planned invasion. It has five years is going to be decisive," (Gen. also been reliably reported that the racists Magnus Mai an) and has launched a massive had established a "Matabele brigade'* offensive to stem the revolutionary tide. commanded by Col. Breytenbach to carry One aspect of this is to create an image of out attacks against Zimbabwe. Training moderation internally, while in actual fact camps have been set up at Phalaborwa. intensifying repression and control. Another Spacer Camp, Madibo Camp and the Ntabi aspect it the physical destruction of the camp. In April 1980 the Western Province ANC and SWAPO both internally and of Zambia was invaded by 2 battalions of externally. South African troops. They mined roads, Warlord Malan recently reiterated attacked villages and burned crops. The warnings that "We are determined to wipe area had to be declared a "disaster area." out the terrorists even if we have to cross Such violations of Zambian territory take our borders to do it." Specially created place continuously and Lesotho is assassination squads and regular forces of increasingly experiencing such aggression. the South African Defence Force have carried out this policy with a lunatic frenzy. Elimination of ANC and SWAPO Joe Gqabi, Ruth First, Petrus and Jabu South Africa's aggression is intensifying Nyaose represent a growing list of victims at a time when the resistance of the people of racist acts of terror. of South Africa and Namibia has reached South African troops blatantly invade unprecendented heights and the regime is neighbouring countries to carry out their facing mounting economic and political murderous work. For example in 1978 crises. South African troops attacked a SWAPO Today the legal, semi-legal and illegal camp at Kassmga ruthlessly slaughtering activity of the oppressed masses is shaking about 1 000 unarmed Namibian refugees. the citadels of power as never before. Eye witnesses were shocked by the "spirit The black working class, the leading of extermination and destruction" of the force of our revolution, continues to grow South African troops. in strength, maturity and consciousness. In January 1981 South African troops Waves of militant strike actions affect invaded Mozambique and attacked ANC almost all sections of major industries. residences murdering 12 unarmed people The youth and students, women's and kidnapping two. organisations, the churches, professional In December 1982 over 100 South organisations, the masses in the rural areas African troops invaded and occupied Maseru and Bantustans are confronting the regime the capital of Lesotho. In an orgy of indis­ at every level. criminate and ruthless violence they Under the banner of "Unity in Action" murdered 42 South African and Lesotho the mighty forces of liberation and social citizens. emancipation continue to grow in strength. This sharp escalation in the actions The actions of Umkhonto we Sizwe of the regime and its murder squads gives have played a very significant role in this. warning that the regime, threatened by Over the last two years units of Umkhonto internal resistance and haunted by the we Sizwe have carried out sabotage actions spectre of socialism in neighbouring throughout the country. The brilliant countries, is committed to unleashing a P. W. Botha with J.C. Heunis shown deep inside Angola at the end of 1975, together with the UNIT A guard of Jonas Savimbi. 'Die Burger' 5.2.77, from which this picture is taken, said it was a "great opportunity for Dr Savimbi's guards to meet these two South African leaders. " Also in the picture is Jannie de Wet, then Commissioner General for Namibia. reign of terror across its borders in a vain working with the apartheid regime. The attempt to roll back the tide of history MNR is nothing but an extension of the SADF. When Mozambican troops captured Features of apartheid terrorism an MNR base at Garngua (Dec. 1981) Some features of racist aggression have they found large quantities of South African been: arms and equipment, signs of SADF instuc- tors, and documentation which showed Growing bmtalisation and almost total that all actions carried out by the MNR breaches of international conventions. These were determined and controlled by the include terror attacks against civilians, SADF. The LLA has bases in South Africa indiscriminate bombings, assassinations, the and receives financial and logistical support use of poison gas etc. from the SADF. Increasing use of surrogate forces. These include UNITA in Angola, MNR in Increasing use of mercenaries. These Mozambique and the LLA in Lesotho. are recruited from the USA, Britain, West Documents captured after the Portuguese Germany, Latin American countries (those revolution, as well as accounts by CIA with close links with the USA), Israel and defectors like Stockwell, confirm reports other western countries. In many cases that Savimbi worked for PIDE and the western governments have given tacit CIA. Since 1975 he has been actively approval to such recruiting. They have not only failed to take effective action Such arrogant display of big power against it but, on the contrary, have facili­ chauvinism; such total disregard of all tated the work of these "whores of war." conventions of international law and Are cetain major western countries cons­ morality; such blatant distortion of facts ciously using mercenaries and bandit organi­ which turns victim into aggressor; such sations to achieve objectives in situations contempt and disregard for international where it is not politically possible to use opinion; such callous disregard of human their own armed forces? suffering has few parallels in modem history.

Need for Urgent Action Can the world allow the apartheid South Africa has given notice of its aims regime to unleash another holocaust? The and objectives in Southern Africa and also military industrial complexes using the the extent to which it will go to achieve smokescreen of the "red bogey" helped these. The war psychosis being developed Hitler rise to power. This generation cannot in South Africa and the constant warnings and must not allow history to repeat itself. that it will take further military actions if A massive international campaign must it considers its security to be threatened, be launched to stop the apartheid regime's are ominous. A senior spokesman of the terroristic aggression against neighbouring regime recently stated that "the acceptance states. Mass militant pressure by the peoples of Soviet military aid by those states is must compel the US, British and French destabilising the region because it provides Governments to stop abusing their powers a military umbrella for subversive elements. of veto in the Security Council of the It is the government's duty to protect United Nations. Effective and total sanctions South African interests ...We will not must be imposed against South Africa. hesitate to take action against Russian All-round political, material and missiles and radar bases on our neighbours* diplomatic support must be given to SWAPO territory ... It does not matter if the commu­ and the ANC. nist military forces are there legitimately as allies of these states."