HEROES DAY

In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly revoked South Africa’s mandate to govern South West African territory and placed it under direct UN administration. South Africa refused to recognize this resolution.^[1] South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) at that time prepared for armed resistance and founded its armed wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962. Many of its erstwhile commanders were in exile but PLAN began to infiltrate the north of Namibia to establish training camps. Omugulugwombashe was one such training camp, established in June 1966 by PLAN commander John Ya Otto Nankudhu. The group under Nankudhu had just started to build defensive structures and planned to train about 90 soldiers there.

On 26 August 1966, eight helicopters of the South African Defence Force attacked the guerrilla fighters at Omugulugwombashe. At the time of attack there were only 17 soldiers in the camp. It was the first armed battle of the War.

In commemoration of the day, 26 August is a public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the United Nations as Namibia Day^[6] but Namibians refer to it as Heroes’ Day.