Ex-SWATF sues over ‘discriminatory’ Veterans Act

A former member of the then South West African Territorial Forces (SWATF) brought a court application last month in which he claims that Namibia&#039;s law on veterans is "discriminatory" in that it only benefits People&#039;s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fighters and government elites.Willem Beukes requested the High Court to review the Veterans Act of 2008 and the Veterans Amendment Act 3 of 2013.However, the application was withdrawn on Tuesday after the United SWATF Veterans Organisation of Namibia revealed that Beukes apparently acted in isolation and filed the case without the executive committee members&#039; approval and permission.‘Fought for the wrong side’In Beukes&#039; statement - submitted before the case was withdrawn - he argued that the law is in conflict with the Namibian Constitution which promotes unity, freedom, peace and stability."The applicants take serious note of all kinds of defamatory comments in parliament by the current caretaker of the government/regime, as well as members of parliament from the ruling party [Swapo].“The current caretaker of the government/regime must refrain from bad-mouthing, such as the statement that the applicants fought for the wrong side during the liberation struggle.”"The applicants fulfilled their obligations to protect the area now considered Namibia from advanced military giants such as the Cuban, Russian, Angolan and Portuguese armies, just to name a few," the statement read.Beukes also pointed out that the current administration was able to take over good infrastructure, as the SWATF is said to have fulfilled its obligation to protect Namibia’s infrastructure even during dangerous war.He said they performed their duties diligently, purposefully and in good faith."The United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 of 29 September 1978 was adopted in good faith, under the pretext of &#039;One Namibia, One Nation&#039; for total national reconciliation as per the founding document and the constitution, but to date it has been in vain," he claimed.‘Tampered’ with minutesThe United SWATF Veterans Organisation claimed that Beukes tampered with the minutes of a meeting dated 15 April. It said he changed the content of the minutes without the approval of the committee members before it was submitted to court.The committee members further argued that unauthorised members, who were not elected as committee members, signed the resolution with which Beukes submitted his application to court."The executive committee will not be held liable in any civil litigation as a result of this illegal action of Mr Willem Beukes."March in 2014Allegations of discrimination against SWATF members and Koevoet fighters are not a new phenomenon.In November 2014, the Namibia War Veterans Trust (Namvet) carried out a peaceful march from Oshakati to the Okankete village near Ondangwa.The march was spurred on by former SWATF members who felt that government discriminated against them.

Ex-SWATF sues over ‘discriminatory’ Veterans Act

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Ex-SWATF sues over ‘discriminatory’ Veterans Act

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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