South African resistance to war: Difference between revisions

The first known conscientious objectors in South Africa were English, Scottish, and Irishmen who were disillusioned by the treatment of [[Boer]] civilians kept in the [[Internment|concentration camps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LizzieVanZyl.jpg |title=File:LizzieVanZyl.jpg - Wikimedia Commons |publisher=Commons.wikimedia.org |date= |accessdate=2021-11-19}}</ref> Those who based their objection to war either on grounds of the rejection of a particular system, such as the [[apartheid]] regime, or doctrines that exclude war based upon illegal means. The [[End Conscription Campaign]] was an organisation active from 1983-19941983–1994, that for the most part, pursued the notion of objection to war based upon [[freedom of conscience]].

Those who resisted war in general or in part due to either religious, private or personal convictions. Either by failing to enlist, deserting, or refusing to do service by other means. Desertionwere deserters isand punishable under the [[Military Discipline Code]] (MDC), which forms part of the 1957 Defence Act. Although the present 1957 Defence Act requires military service obligations after completion of the initial military training, thesethe obligations are not enforced owingbecause toof an August 1994 [[Moratoriummoratorium (law)|moratorium]] placed on prosecution for not responding to the call-ups. [7]

However, thisthe moratorium does not apply to cases of absence without leave or desertion. In other words, although [[conscription]] is not enforced, but those who deserted under the apartheid system or who failed to respond to call-ups couldcan still, technically, be prosecuted.

The Committee on South African War Resistance (COSAWR) was founded in 1978 by the merging of two groups of [[South Africa]]n war resisters active in [[UK|Britain]]. A branch in the Netherlands was formed in 1979.<ref>{{cite thesis |degree=Masters |last1=Collins |first1=Brian F. |title=A history of the Committee on South African War Resistance (COSAWR) (1978-1990) |date=1995 |publisher=University of Cape Town |url=https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/21779}}</ref> It functionsfunctioned as a self-help organization for South African military [[refugees]]. It also, worked to raise the issue of [[militarism]] in South Africa and conducted research into the South African military structure and resistance. Its magazine ''Resister'' became the leading magazine on South Africa's militarisation. In 1990, when the sentencing of [[conscientious objectors]] (CO's) in South Africa changed considerably, themost majority of COSAWRmembers decided to return to South Africa.

The [[Conscientious Objector Support Group]] (COSG), an umbrella organisation, was formed in 1978. In 1982 263 CO's were, serving sentences in military detention [[barracks]] were being served by 263 conscientious objectors. In 1983, the Defence Act was amended, providingto provide for the first time a six-year substitute service outside the armed forces for CO'sconscientious objectors.

It was formed by [[William Thomas Stead]] in 1899.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Riedi|first=Eliza|date=February 2013|title=The women pro-Boers: gender, peace and the critique of empire in the South African war|url=https://academic.oup.com/histres/article/86/231/92/5603471|journal=Historical Research|volume=86|issue=231|pages=92–115|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2281.2012.00612.x|via=Oxford Academic}}</ref><ref>{{Citecite web|title=The first Stop the War movement|url=https://martinplaut.com/2018/12/31/the-first-stop-the-war-movement/|date=2018-12-31|website=martinplaut|language=en|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> Its president was [[John Clifford (minister)|John Clifford]], and prominent members included [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]] and [[Keir Hardie]]. The group was generally seen as pro-[[Boer]].

[[Category:Anti-war movement]]