John ya Otto Nankudhu
Encyclopedia
John ya Otto Nankudhu was a Namibia
n freedom fighter, army officer and politician. He was the commander of the forces of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
(PLAN) at Omugulugwombashe
when the armed struggle for independence
began there on 26 August 1968 and was later jailed for 17 years at Robben Island
.
. In 1960 he went into exile. He received military training in Egypt
until 1963 and thereafter joined a military academy in the USSR where he completed training in 1964.
Nankudhu returned to Africa in 1964 and, already in the rank of a commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
(PLAN), started a military training camp in Kongwa
, Tanzania. In 1966 he moved into Namibia as one of the first six freedom fighters to mobilise and train people for armed resistance. Under his leadership a reconnaissance
camp near Ongandjera
was established in January, and a training camp at Omugulugwombashe
in June.
On 26 August 1966, eight helicopters of the South African Defence Force
attacked the PLAN guerrilla
fighters, only 17 of which were in the camp at the time of attack. It was the first armed battle in the Namibian War of Independence
. In commemoration of the day, 26 August is a public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the UN as Namibia Day but Namibians refer to it as Heroes' Day
.
John ya Otto Nankudhu was only arrested in December. The South Africans detained him in Pretoria
, tortured him, and placed him in solitary confinement
. He occupied the cell Walter Sisulu
was held in before. In 1968 he was sentenced to death under the Terrorism Act
. Following international pressure the sentence was converted to life in prison at Robben Island
. He was released in December 1985.
Nankudhu served as regional councillor for Windhoek
Wanaheda constituency (now Samora Machel constituency) from 1999 until 2010. He also was the chairman of the Central Region of the Swapo Party. and a member of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs. On 26 August 2007 he received the honorary military rank of a Colonel
.
John ya Otto Nankudhu was married to Jacobina. They had five children. Nankudhu died on 21 June 2011, reportedly a poor man. Shortly after Nandudhu's death Hifikepunye Pohamba
, President of the Republic of Namibia, conferred the status of a National Hero upon him and directed that a state burial be held. Nankudhu was buried at Namibia's Heroes' Acre near Windhoek on 2 July 2011.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n freedom fighter, army officer and politician. He was the commander of the forces of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at...
(PLAN) at Omugulugwombashe
Omugulugwombashe
Omugulugwombashe is a settlement in the Tsandi electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia. The settlement features a clinic and a primary school. In Omugulugwombashe the Namibian struggle for independence started in 1966...
when the armed struggle for independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
began there on 26 August 1968 and was later jailed for 17 years at Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
.
Early life and exile
Nankudhu was born on 24 June 1933 at Ontananga in northern Namibia. He joined the Ovamboland People’s Congress, the predecessor of SWAPO, in 1958, shortly after its foundation. He quickly ascended to become its chairman for OranjemundOranjemund
Oranjemund is a town of 4,000 inhabitants situated in the extreme southwest of Namibia, on the northern bank of the Orange River mouth. It exists to service the diamond industry....
. In 1960 he went into exile. He received military training in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
until 1963 and thereafter joined a military academy in the USSR where he completed training in 1964.
Nankudhu returned to Africa in 1964 and, already in the rank of a commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at...
(PLAN), started a military training camp in Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa is one of the 5 districts of the Dodoma Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Manyara Region, to the East by the Morogoro Region, to the South by the Mpwapwa District and to the West by the Dodoma Rural District....
, Tanzania. In 1966 he moved into Namibia as one of the first six freedom fighters to mobilise and train people for armed resistance. Under his leadership a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
camp near Ongandjera
Ongandjera
Ongandjera is settlement near Okahao in the Omusati Region northern Namibia. Historically part of Ovamboland, Ongandjera is also a traditional kingship. It is the birthplace of Sam Nujoma, the country's first President. In 1917, South Africa stripped the rulers of seven kingships, including...
was established in January, and a training camp at Omugulugwombashe
Omugulugwombashe
Omugulugwombashe is a settlement in the Tsandi electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia. The settlement features a clinic and a primary school. In Omugulugwombashe the Namibian struggle for independence started in 1966...
in June.
Battle at Omugulugwombashe
In 1966 the UN General Assembly revoked South Africa mandate to govern South-West African territory and placed it under direct UN administration. South Africa refused to recognize this resolution. The group under Nankudhu had just started to build defensive structures and planned to train about 90 soldiers at Omugulugwombashe.On 26 August 1966, eight helicopters of the South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
attacked the PLAN guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
fighters, only 17 of which were in the camp at the time of attack. It was the first armed battle in the Namibian War of Independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
. In commemoration of the day, 26 August is a public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the UN as Namibia Day but Namibians refer to it as Heroes' Day
Heroes' Day (Namibia)
Heroes' Day is a national public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the United Nations as Namibia Day. Celebrated annually on 26 August, the day commemorates the Namibian War of Independence which began on 26 August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe....
.
John ya Otto Nankudhu was only arrested in December. The South Africans detained him in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, tortured him, and placed him in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
. He occupied the cell Walter Sisulu
Walter Sisulu
Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress .-Family and Education:...
was held in before. In 1968 he was sentenced to death under the Terrorism Act
Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967
The Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 was a law of the South African Apartheid regime until all except section 7 was repealed under the Internal Security and Intimidation Amendment Act 138 of 1991.-Detention without trial:...
. Following international pressure the sentence was converted to life in prison at Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
. He was released in December 1985.
After Namibian independence
After independenceNamibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
Nankudhu served as regional councillor for Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
Wanaheda constituency (now Samora Machel constituency) from 1999 until 2010. He also was the chairman of the Central Region of the Swapo Party. and a member of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs. On 26 August 2007 he received the honorary military rank of a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
John ya Otto Nankudhu was married to Jacobina. They had five children. Nankudhu died on 21 June 2011, reportedly a poor man. Shortly after Nandudhu's death Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
, President of the Republic of Namibia, conferred the status of a National Hero upon him and directed that a state burial be held. Nankudhu was buried at Namibia's Heroes' Acre near Windhoek on 2 July 2011.