South African resistance to war
South African resistance to war has a long tradition, and a history that includes
Conscientious objectors
The first known conscientious objectors in South Africa were English, Scottish, and Irishmen who were disillusioned by the treatment of
Pacifists, deserters and draft dodgers
Those who resisted war in general or in part due to either religious, private or personal convictions by failing to enlist, deserting, or refusing to do service by other means were deserters and punishable under the Military Discipline Code (MDC), which forms part of the 1957 Defence Act. Although the 1957 Defence Act requires military service obligations after completion of the initial military training, the obligations are not enforced because of an August 1994 moratorium placed on prosecution for not responding to the call-ups.
However, the moratorium does not apply to cases of absence without leave or desertion. In other words, conscription is not enforced, but those who deserted under the apartheid system or who failed to respond to call-ups can still technically be prosecuted.
Committee on South African War Resistance
The Committee on South African War Resistance (COSAWR) was founded in 1978 by the merging of two groups of
Conscientious Objector Support Group
The Conscientious Objector Support Group (COSG), an umbrella organisation, was formed in 1978. In 1982, serving sentences in military detention barracks were being served by 263 conscientious objectors. In 1983, the Defence Act was amended to provide for the first time a six-year substitute service outside the armed forces for conscientious objectors.
Stop the War Committee
The
It was formed by
See also
- Angolan Civil War
- End Conscription Campaign
- Military history of South Africa
- South African Border War
- List of anti-war organizations
- List of peace activists
References
- ^ "File:LizzieVanZyl.jpg - Wikimedia Commons". Commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
- ^ Collins, Brian F. (1995). A history of the Committee on South African War Resistance (COSAWR) (1978-1990) (Masters thesis). University of Cape Town.
- – via Oxford Academic.
- ^ "The first Stop the War movement". martinplaut. 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
- "On War Resisters", Statement by the National Executive of the African National Congress on "The South African Defence Force 'Deserters'", 29 October 1979.
- Refusing to Bear Arms (South Africa), A worldwide survey of conscription and conscientious objection to military service, 10 August 1998.