Walvis Bay Military Area


The Walvis Bay Military Area was a specific militarised zone bordering South West Africa during the South African Border War. Military equipment was freighted through the harbour to support operations throughout South West Africa.

History

was managed as a South African enclave for eighty-four years. The Walvis Bay Military Area, with ten other regional Commands of South Africa, made up the Territorial Force of the South African Defence Force.
Based in Walvis Bay, this Command was responsible for the security of the enclave, forming the primary level of command for military operations.
This Command also provided logistic, administrative and service support to units and formations operating in its area of responsibility.

Leadership

Col J. van Schalkwyk

Handover to Namibia

By 1990, South West Africa gained independence as Namibia, but Walvis Bay remained under South African sovereignty, with South Africa increasing its number of troops, mainly due to units returning from Namibia.
By 1992, however the two countries agreed to establish a transitional Joint Administrative Authority for Walvis Bay and the Offshore Islands.
In August 1993, South Africa passed a resolution calling for "the incorporation-reintegration of Walvis Bay and the Off-Shore Islands into Namibia."
The Transfer of Walvis Bay to Namibia Act was passed by the South African government that year.
Following the signing of a treaty between the two countries, South Africa formally transferred sovereignty of Walvis Bay to Namibia on 1 March 1994.
The process of removing South African military assets from Walvis Bay was completed by then.