Question

explain the namibian people reacted to what's the introduction of apartheid?​

Answer 1

Answer:

During the 1960s most of Africa’s countries had gained independence except for Namibia. Geographically, Namibia is made up of savannah, dry scrub land, as well as the Kalahari and the Namib Deserts. The country is rich in minerals such as uranium, vanadium, lithium, tungsten, as well as diamonds. It was these mineral resources that encouraged and motivated South Africa to try and hold on to Namibia throughout the many years of revolution, 1966 – 1990. The South African government also believed that by holding onto Namibia, the guerrilla war in Angola would be kept further away from South Africa. South African apartheid laws were extended to Namibia and prevented black Namibians from having any political rights, as well as restricted social and economic freedoms. The aim of South Africa’s rule over Namibia was to exploit the mineral resources by white South Africa.

In 1964, South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) was formed. SWAPO was mainly a Black African Nationalist movement led by Sam Nujoma. The agenda of the SWAPO was around the belief that class struggle for independence, political and social freedom was needed to create historical change in Namibia. SWAPO claimed support from all the local tribes. However, the South African government in an attempt to divide and conquer claimed that it was dominated by the Ovambo tribe who make up just over half the population of Namibia. Ovambos are agricultural people who live primarily in the North of Namibia. In 1967, South Africa arrested and tried 37 Namibians for supporting terrorism including Andimba Herman Toivo ja Toivo, one of the founders of SWAPO who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Robben Island, off Cape Town’s coast.