South West African Territorial Force - History and Background

History and Background

Further information: South African Border War and Namibian War of Independence

From 1966 until 1989, South African security forces waged a long and bitter counterinsurgency conflict against indigenous nationalists in what was then South-West Africa, represented by the Marxist South-West African People's Organisation (SWAPO). As the guerrilla war intensified, however, it became clear that civilian police alone were not enough to cope with SWAPO incursions and escalating unrest. Consequently, military units were deployed for the first time; 60,000 South African combat troops were engaged in South-West Africa by the late 1970s.

As part of a general policy of military and social reform, Pretoria initiated the establishment of local defence and police agencies for its protectorate beginning in 1977. The new South West African Territorial Force was officially created on 1 August, 1980, from South-West African citizens already serving with the South African Defence Force. For all practical purposes, SWATF remained firmly integrated into existing SADF command structures. Its stated goals were centred predominantly around protecting the political status quo and countering SWAPO's growing war effort.

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