The End Conscription Campaign was an anti-apartheid organisation of conscientious objectors in South Africa. It was formed in 1983 to oppose the conscription of all white South African men into military service in the South African Defence Force. A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... A conscientious objector is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with military service, perhaps with any role in the armed forces or just with a particular war. ... The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is the name of the armed forces of South Africa. ...

At its peak, conscription in South Africa consisted of two years of mandatory military service, followed by camps at intervals. Under apartheid, the call-up applied to all white men after completing their schooling or further studies.

Political objections to military service were generally based on the role of the security forces in enforcing the policy of apartheid. South Africa's security forces were active in actions against the liberation movements in South Africa as well as neighbouring countries including Angola, South West Africa (now Namibia) and Mozambique. The military also became increasingly active in suppressing protests in South Africa's black townships. South-West Africa is the former name (1884-1990) of Namibia under German (as German South-West Africa, Deutsch Süd-West Afrika) and (from 1915) South African administration when it was conqured from the Germans during World War I. Following the war, the Treaty of Versailles declared the territory... In South Africa, the term township usually refers to the (often underdeveloped) urban residential areas that, under Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites (Africans, Coloureds and Indians) who lived near or worked in areas that were designated white-only. Soweto (actually a group of townships) and Alexandra are two of...

Those who refused military service were often subject to derision and hatred in the white community, and left with the choice of either exile or imprisonment of up to double the length of the military service.

The End Conscription Campaign mobilised against conscription, promoted alternatives to military service, and provided information and support to conscientious objectors.

In 1989, conscription was reduced from two years to one year, and during the negotiation period from 1990 to 1994 was less rigorously enforced. After the first multi-racial election in 1994, conscription has no longer applied in South Africa. 1994 General Election results, National Assembly African National Congress (ANC) 12,237,655 62. ...

External links

• Kairos collection documents about conscription in South Africa