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End Conscription Campaign Orlando Redekopp Collection

October 2017 Stop the Call Up End Conscription Campaign

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' ECC's path to peace In 1979, South African Defence Minister ~tany organisa tions responded to this General Magnus Malan said : "The decision and came together to establish (South African) Defence Force supports End Conscription Con1mittees in Johann­ govemn1ent policy and is responsible esburg, Cape Town and Durban by the for peace, law and order in this country. end of the year. The first national ECC This policy is the same as that laid down 111eeti11g took place at ~'ilgespruit near by Dr H F Verwoerd, nainely 1nulti­ Johannesburg in July 1984. ll was nationalism. and self-determination of decided to draw up the ECC Declaration nations." (Cape Times 28/ I 0/79) calling for a just peace in SA . The Declaration was endorsed by matty Government policy has since changed organisations and individuals over the to entrench in the new tri­ next few n,onths. In October and racial constitution. Malan's assertion of Nove1nber the Declaration was launched South African Defence Force (SADF) in Cape Town, Durban attd Johannesburg support for government policy remains. with extensive support for the campaign This political nature of the SADF has and widespread publicity of the Declara­ been a cause for concern in the white tion endorsers. comn1unity for many years. Opposition to the role of the military is not new. Church groupings have made repeated calls on the government to provide at1 TOWARDS A JUST PEACE IN OOR LANO alternative non-military form of national service. The late 1970s attd early 1980s Wt. 1,.-c VI .,., i,on,r-st $0<•~1y whve ~asi, h~an l"ighk ndulicd saw a rapid increase in the number of to U,e may,nty of tne people. young men conscientiously objecting to We. liwt. m an .a,~ I t.O

The first more generalised opposition 1 \ k bc~&lc th,* fiie- f..illn(;iaj e,o•,t of fht WK 1nc:rt.SC$ +ht_ ~ 0,, to the role of the 1nilitary came from the our «Ml'd')•, lll'J ih,t f'M•'4f ~ r«fnu bc.11• .., lhe. i~ts of pt.a. when at its annual conference We 1-clit.ll't lhid ¼he ~tcnwri rJ c.o,ncr,pt1on to c-.obU"td and .-.d~f'I in 1983, a motion was passed calling for Y-*"''" .....11 ..: crU.\C C-OMl,c+- Mei r.. rthc,- d..... ,d~ OW" C,Ot,,ir\try. an end to conscription. Subsequently, in o;E BWEV£ mAT IT IS Tl-IE. ,•AORAL. RIGHT OF SOUTH AFRICANS 10 EXI:R.CISE FREWG\A OF CONSCIENCE July that year, at the fourth annual AND 10 CHOOS[ NOf TO SERVC IN THE. SADF. conference of the Conscientious WE CALL fOR ~ END TO CONSCRIPTION Objectors Support Group, a decision WE CAU FOl1 A JUST PEACE IN OUR J.AND was ta.ken to launch the End Conscrip· tion Campaign. 2 The ECC held its first national con­ ference in January 1985 where its constitution was drafted and a national organiser appointed. Here the idea to convene a national festival for peace was raised. Over the next months, amidst frenetic planning for U1e festival, ECCs were established in Port Elizabeth and Pietermarit.zburg. Five End Conscription Committees (JHB, PE. PMB, CT, DBN), in which over 40 organisations have participated nationally have been set up in less than two years.

This rapid growth of the ECC has occurred with organi a,tions uniting around a number of areas of opposition to conscription. These have been express­ ed as follows : 1) Conscription intensifies the violent conflict in . This is engend­ ered by a political syscem which denies most South Africans basic human rights; 2) Conscriptio n prolongs the war in Namibia. Forcing young men to fight in Nan1 ibia inhibits the im plem enta tion of United Nation's Resolution 435 and the demand of many church and human concept of a just peace in our land, a rights groups that SA troops withdraw peace that can only be realised in a non­ fro1n Namibia to allow UN supervised racial, democratic South Africa . elections to take place. 3) Conscription is a cornerstone in the With the basis of opposition to con­ militarisation of South Africa. Conscrip­ scription so defined, the End Conscrip­ tion conditions society to accept the tion Committees have set themscvles a intrusion of the nulitary into schools, number of tasks. Firstly, the ECCs are townships and the highest levels of attempting to create a coherent and political decision-making, and the SADFs educated voice of opposition to the role ongoing destabilisation of Southern of the military and to conscription. African states. Secondly, the ECCs provide a supportive 4) Conscription violates the right of the and stin1ulative environment for their individual to refuse in conscience to member organisations to take up this render military service and be granted opposition. And thirdly, the ECCs instead a non-military alternative. endeavour to propogate non-racialism 5) Conscription forces South African and build support for the non-racial you th to work hand in hand with the organjsations representing the majority in the implementa­ of South Africa's people, in order to tion of oppressive apartheid laws. work towards the goal of a just peace 6) Conscription is antithetical to the i.n our land.

3 WE LIV E IN AN UNJUST SOCIETY WHERE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS ARE DENIED TO THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE

Violence is present wherever people are Rac ial classification forced to live in such a way that their human potential and needs can never Access to health, housing, education be realised. Needs can only be adequately and employment is based on colour. 1net by a system of government that is There is one doctor for every 400 whites answerable to the people it goven1s. in South Africa, and one doctor to 73 per cent of South Africa's people every 90 000 blacks. While R 129 million have no say in the goverrunent of their is spent on forced removals, only R8 country - a governn1ent that since I 948 n1illion is allocated for housing in the has en trenched the system of apartheid latest budget. in the laws of this land. Detention and security legislation Influx control and migrant labour

Africans are forced to suffer the 70 people have to date died whilst hun1iliation and degradation of the in tl1e custody of the South African 'do1npas'. There are over 200 000 police, and torture by tlle security arrests for pass law offences each year police is widely alleged. The accepted and 3,5 million people have been leaders of the black population have been forcibly relocated. Family life has been in1prisoned. So far this year, 55 people destroyed for millions through the policy are facing charges of treason for their of migrant Jabour. active opposition to the system of apartheid and the hardships it inlposes The hon1eland policy has deprived on the majority of South Africa's 1nore than 8 n1illion South Africans of people. their citizenship. Jhe impoverished The violence of apartheid is thus Bantustans are unable to provide even structured into every facet of South the bare essentials of an adequate African society. \Vith the new tri­ existence. Of every .1000 cllildren born, racial parliament, apartheid has been 130 in the Transkei and 240 in the incorporated into South Africa's Ciskei will die from malnutrition before constitution. Until apartheid has been the age of one. eradicated, there can be no peace. 4 WE LIVE IN AN UNEQUAL SOCIETY WHERE THE LAND AND WEALTH ARE OWNED BY THE MINORITY

To provide adequate 1neals for a is calculated to be about R250. Over family, parents need to have either 50 per cent of African households have land and the n1eans to grow food, or the an incon1e of less than RI 50 p/m and purchasing power to obtain food. over 70 per cent have less than R250. Land and the means to grow food Money shortages are severely exacer­ bated by price rises of essential food­ The Land Acts of I 913 and 1936 stuffs. In 197 5 the bread price was I 3 aUocated 13 per cent of South Africa's cents and I 5 cents for brown and white land to 70 per cent of the tota.1 popu­ bread respectively. Now it stands at 40 lation. In the overcrowded Bantustans cents for brown and 60 cents for white poverty, n1alnutrition and disease are bread. A further 50 per cent price rise rife. In Kwazulu, the population density has recently been announced. in 1980 was 99 people/ square km. The CST was introduced in 1979 at 4 per Buthelezi Commission found that even cent. It now stands at I 2 per cent. with a 500 per cent increase in agricul­ CST most severely effects those with tural productivity, Kwazulu could only low purchasing power. support 1,5 million people. Already, the population is more than double this. While economic power in South Africa becomes increasingly centralised Purchasing power - 80 percent of the companies in the In I 984, white wage earners received Johannesburg Stock Exchange are. an average of R 1380 per month, while controlled by 7 corpora,ions - life for African wage earners received an average most South Africans under apartheid is of R204 per month. Household income a battle for survival against the combined is an effective indicator of poverty. forces of poverty and the laws of the The monthly household subsistence level government.

5 WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY IN A STATE OF CIVIL WAR WHERE BROTHER IS CALLED ON TO FIGHT BROTHER ,,,..---- -

Thoroughout South Africa's history if not for a twisted government ideology people have struggled to create a just and the unjustifiable preservation of society. Strenuous efforts to bring about white supremacy. The barrel of a gun - democratic change by peaceful means this is the final meeting place, for black have consistently been made. In response and white, decreed by apartheid." the state has repeatedly demonstrated its readiness to use violence . to crush peaceful opposition. In recent times Professor John Dugard, a University it has been conscripts who have had to of the Witwatersrand legal expert, has perform this task against fellow South described the Eastern Cape as "Gestapo Africans. country". Subsequent to the Uitenhage shootings on March 21st Mr Adria an Vlok, simultaneously Deputy Minister The current situl!tion was recently of Law and Order and of Defence, described by a speaker at a Civil Rights referred on SA TV to the people of the League VE Day meeting as follows : Eastern Cape as "the ene1ny." "Across the country, the townships are in a turmoil. The army occupies The increasing polarization of Sou th the 'hotspots', patrols them, searches African society and the escalating spiral them - saracens and ratels dorninate the of violence will continue as long as the streets - at every exit, a roadblock. root causes exist. A just peace in our land Behind the rifle a white kid's eyes stare ... can only be realised when apartheid is Hey, soldier for what are you fighting - replaced by non-racialism and democracy. 6 YOUNG MEN ARE CONSCRIPTED TO MAINTAIN THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF NAMIBIA AND TO WAGE UNJUST WAR AGAINST FOREIGN COUNTRIES

It is I 4 years since the International The suffering of the Namibian people Court of Justice declared the South in their war-tom country is immense, African occupation of Namibia illegal. particularly in nothem Kavango and This I 97 I ruling is no Jess valid today. Ovarnboland.. : · where the war is most intense. • lntiyiidation, torture and South Africa has openly defied .the brutalization of innocent people by consensus of the international commu­ South African armed forces is wide­ nity by increasing the number of troops spread. Andreas Kapit.ingo was spit­ in Namibia and by bringing into exis­ roasted by Koevoet members resulting tence · successive regimes not supported in the amputation of his right arm. The by the majority of Namibians (for offenders were fined RSO each. It is example, the Democratic Turnhalle estimated that over 10 000 Namibians, Alliance and the present Multi-Party I per cent of the total population, have Conference.) died in the 19 year war.

The escalating conflict in Namibia which has been described as 'unwinnable' by Lieutenant General Jannie Geldenhuys South Africa has repeatedly conduct­ is daily exacting a heavy cost in lives and ed acts of military aggression against finance. neighbouring countries. Since the 1975 invasion of Angola there have been numerous attacks. Examples are : 1978 In I 980 P W Botha announced that Cassinga (Angola), 1982 Maseru South Africa had spent R3000 million (Lesotho) and 1983 Maputo (Mozam­ on "infrastructure and defense" in bique). The latest of these is the shocki!Jg Namibia. Annually the war is costing raid into Gabarone, Botswana, where I 4 R600 million, over I million per day, people were killed including a six year with more being spent bolstering old child. Many were injured including a Namibia's apartheid society. pregnant woman who is still in a critical condition.

It is widely believed that South Africa follows a generalised policy of destabili­ NAMIBIA zation, providing support for the MNR in · Mocambique, UNITA in Angola, super­ ZAPU (dissidents) in ZiI~babwe and the LLA in Lesotho. Pi.k Botha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has recently admitted that South Africa has assisted the MNR (Renan10) iI1 the past and would assist the1n in the future if necessary. 7 YOUNG MEN ARE CONSCRIPTED TO ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEFENCE OF APARTHEID POLICIES

The SADF is increasingly being used to Migrant workers carry out government policy. Such activities have ranged fron1 assisting in In 1981 , during the municipal work­ forced removals, arresting people for ers' strike, prior to any settlernent, the pass offences, patrolling townships and SADF sealed off the workers' compounds manning roadblocks around the country. and forced workers onto trucks returning Some of the more recent examples to the hornelands. follow:

Forced re1novals Roadblocks, cordons, sweep and search operations One of the rnost publicised removals was in 1983 when the people of Magopa 1982 - SADF aids SAP in 633 road­ were forcibly removed to Pachsdraai by blocks, 22 cordon operations, l O sweep the SADF. Magopa was declared an and search operations. (ROM 23/ I 0/83 operational area for the duration of the as quoted from Dr Philip Frankel in removals. ''s Praetorians') The SADF has also been involved in re­ 1983/84 - 27000 SADF troops involved movals in the following areas : in manning roadblocks in SA from April * The Zimbabwe and Venda border area. '83 to March '84. (Cape Times I 8/5/84) * St Lucia, where a SADF n1issile base was to be built. )'he whole area was 1984/85 - Since October 23 1984, sealed off and declared an operational when 7000 troops sealed off and searched area. the townships of Sebokeng, Sharpeville * Mafeking to Zeerust, relocating people and Boipatong there has been a contin­ in Bophutatswana. uous presence of SADF troops in the * Ditakwaneng in the Northern Cape. Transvaal and Eastern Cape townships. * Riemvasmaak near Augrabies Falls. Over twenty townships across the count­ * Maren1ane area - now Lohatla - the ry have been occupied by the SADF. site of operation thunderchariot. * Kosi Bay to lngwavuma. Involvemen t in townships

Pass arrests The SADF have becorne permanently garrisoned in many townships. They have Many of these have occurred in the been involved in the tear-gassing of .last year during the seal and search mourners at funerals and iJ1 breaking up operations conducted by the SADF and peaceful rent protests. They have made the SAP (largely in Ten1bisa, Sebokeng, numerous arrests and according to the Sharpeville, Boipatong and Thokoza). Minister of Law and Order Mr Louis Le Most offenders in these arrests hae been Grange, replying to a question in parlia­ pass offenders. (information : Star - n1ent , have been responsible for 5 deaths 23/10; 24/ 10; 14/ 11 ; 16/ 11 1984) in the townships since the Uitenhage shootings this year. (C. Times ·13/6/85)

8 YOUNG MEN WHO REFUSE TO SERVE ARE FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF A LIFE OF EXILE OR A POSSIBLE SIX YEARS IN PRISON

Tl1e only grounds on whjch alternative service to the military is made available are those of universal religious pacifism. Such cases are heard by the Board for Religious O,bjection headed by Judge Steyn. Thls pe¥flition excludes most potential o bjectors : provision is not n1ade for those objecting to military service on religious grounds in terms of tJ1e Just War theory or on moral and political grounds. The present sentence for such objectors is a mandatory six years in a civi!i_an prison.

Severa.I people such as Peter Moll, Billy Paddock, Peter Hathorn and Paul Dobson have served tinle for their beliefs under the previous legislation, which carried a 2 year maxin1um sentence. For the majority who feel that tlley are unable to render service in the SADF on grounds of individual con­ science, the options are extremely Increasing nun1bers of young 1nen are linlited. Young men who are not pre­ refusing to serve in the SADF on 1noral, pared to fight in the SADF but who religous and political grounds. The wold like to serve their country in a number of men who failed to report for constructive and peaceful manner, are national service this January (1985) faced a choice of a life in exile or six alone was 7589, as compared with I 956 years in prison. for the whole of last year.

9 WE BELIEVE THAT THE FINANCIAL COST OF THE WAR INC REASES THE POVERTY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND T.l:f AT ~tONEY SHOULD RATHER BE USED IN THE INTERESTS OF PEACE - -

f

•

~~ ~ .·A .. ' ..,-.,.p,p "t.~ ~-"" . . ' -·, .·.a efence spending has increased markedly The cost of the war in Namibia alone over the last few decades, and consumes is estinrn ted to be so1ne R600 million a significant proportion of the budget. annually, whi.le the total daily defence In J 960 the defence budget was R44 budget is estimated at RJ 2 million. million. The I 984/ 5 defence budget is Although R 12 could build o ne hospital, R4,2 billion, 15,4 per cent of the total Mitchell 's Plain with a population the budget. This in itself could be a conser· size of Bloem fontein's, is denied a general vative estimate, given that rnoney can hospital allegedly due to lack of funds. be channelled to defence through other This is but one isolated exarnple. Basic state departments. A Special Defence human rights such as health and housing Account exists, and during the fiscal are suffering at the expense of the escalat­ years of 1979/80 and 1980/8 I, arnounts ing and on-going war. were allegedly drawn from this account equal to more than half again of the · In the most recent Defence White regular budget. " If the same proportions Paper, Minister of Defence Magnus Malan apply today, another R2150 million has indicated that defence spending will could be added to the latest defence remain a top priority. Defence spending budget of R4274 1nillion" (Sun. Star undboutedly adds a severe strain to an 14/4/85). Much military related expendi· already strained economy. This was one ture is the responsibility of other govern, of . the motivations for raising of GST ment departments, for example housing made by the Minister of Finance, who for personnel and construction of bases said that the military had overspent its is not reflected in the defence budget budget by R300 million. itself. While state expenditure on education TI1e End Conscription Committee has increased, budget allocations for believes that a direct correlation exists fundamental necessities such as health between defence spending and the and housing remain alarmingly low. increasingly depressed living standards Infant mortality rates, squatter camps of the majority of our people. No an1ount and gross over-crowding are merely of rnilitary spending will provide the an aspect of this. solution to political problems. 10 WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXTENSION OF CONSCRIPTION TO COWUR­ ED AND INDIAN YOUTH WILL INCREASE CONFLICT AND FURTHER DIVIDE OUR COUNTRY "You can't ask a man to fight for his the UDF and National Forum have country if he can't vote." started conscription activities. F W de Klerk, leader of Tvl NP '82 There are already substantial numbers "When they have the vote, gradually of coloured and lnd.ian youth in the we will extend their service too, SADF. One of the main reasons for this naturally as we did with the whites." is the high unemployment experienced PW Botha, Cape Times 4/ 11/83 by these groups. In the words of a Cape Corps recn1it : "There are many people With the new constitution, extension living arour.d us who have sent their of conscription to coloured and Indian sons to the anny because they do not have work and are no longer schooling. South Africans has beco1ne imminent. It has frequently been made clear that Sometimes the police come and frighten extension of "rights" implies the obli­ you, and the best way to stay out of trouble is to go to the anny - where gation to defend those "rights." else can you go? We get a Jot of money there. I would not get such money in a It has been speculated that one of the job." motivations for the new constitution was to increase the number of eligible con­ The extension of conscription will scriptees, as the currently conscripted give the South African conflict a non­ white community becomes more strained racial appearance reinforcing the idea in combatting internal unrest. Extension that the conflict is between South of conscription will result in militarism African and a foreign agressor, and is and military ideology being more effect­ no~ a result of apartheid policies. As ively ex tended to a wider community. Comdt. M Swanepoel of 21 batallion (a black unit said: "With blacks in SA Opposition to these initiatives has anny unifonns you can say, 'heck, this begun amo.ngst many youth, student and proves that this is not a white man's other democratic organisations. Both struggle any more."

11 THAT IT IS MORAL RIGHT OF SOUTH AFRICANS TO EXCERCISE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE TO CHOOSE NOT TO SERVE IN THE SADF WE CALL FOR AN END TO CON~CRIPTION WE CALL FOR A JUST PEACE IN OUR LAND

Issued by End Conscription Commi ttee 126 Chapel Street Woodstock Printed by Allies Press College Road Greenhaven 1985