The Namibian General Strike of 1971 was a general strike in Namibia (then a part of South Africa) that occurred in 1971 and 1972, led by indigenous Ovambo attempting to gain greater workers rights and struggling against the governments Apartheid policies.
Background
After World War I and the collapse of the German Empire, South Africa gained the former german colony and began to force people there to live under the Apartheid system. In addition to this, indigenous people were required to perform forced labor for capitalists, peaceful protests and petitions to end this system began in 1957 but were largely ineffective.
Events
In June of 1971, strikes began, police arrested strikers but failed to contain the unrest.
From August to December Church leaders met with the South African Prime Minister and the Commissioner General for Northern Native Territories, Jan De Wet. Negotiations during this time were unsuccessful. At one of these meetings De Wet even stated that the system was voluntary and that, if Ovambos and other native Namibians were against the contract system, they would not ask for the contracts. The truth is that there was no other way for them to earn a living. Miners, cleaners, healthcare workers, builders and cooks all went on strike. After two days of government-striker negotiations in Grootfontein, Namibia, the South African government officially abolished the contract labor system. The new regulations allowed laborers to apply for jobs at labor bureaucracies in Ovamboland. The workers could choose their jobs and were paid based on the type of work and individual contracts. Both laborers and employers could end the contract at any time. Employers had to provide free medical care. There was no provision for family accompaniment to places of work.
Many workers felt that poor conditions were still present within this new system and so continued to strike. Church leaders spoke out against the new system, just as they had spoken out against the contract labor system. On January 26, the South African government sent troops to Ovamboland to keep order. The next day there was a news blackout within the tribal area. Throughout the whole ordeal police broke up meetings with violence, killing ten Ovambos. Two more Ovambo strikers were killed by fellow tribesmen that were against the strikes and the South African government exiled 20 clergymen from Ovamboland.
On February 4, South Africa declared emergency laws that banned gatherings of more than five people in Ovamboland.
On February 14, twelve strikers were put on trial for breaking contract and starting the general strike. Most charges were dropped when the trial ended in June. The trial revealed many of the horrific conditions in the labor compounds.
Workers continued strikes until April in protest of the unchanged conditions under the new system. During this time the Secretary-General of the U.N. met with Ovambo leaders to hear their stories.
Results
The strike led to an end of forced labour and a greater desire for an independent Namibia. Workers rights were signifi
References
Global Nonviolent Action Database - https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/ovambo-migrant-workers-general-strike-rights-namibia-1971-72