Political activist Angula remembered

FORMER defence minister Charles Namoloh has described the late Jason Angula as a humble, good-hearted person, who will always be remembered.

Angula was the former Swapo secretary for labour and one of Namibia’s most prominent political prisoners in the late 1980s.

He was freed following an international campaign for his release after being imprisoned at South Africa’s notorious detention centre at Osire, which later became a refugee camp.

Angula died at the age of 72 on Monday at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek following a long illness.

Namoloh this week said he has known Angula for 54 years as they went to school together at Odibo from 1966 to 1970.

From there we moved to Ongwediva, then to Walvis Bay to look for casual work. We later lost contact. He went to Martin Luther [High School] to further his studies; I went into exile.

“Jason stayed in the country, but was active in politics. When we were in exile, Jason was always in and out of jail. Sometimes he was in confinement. He suffered for the struggle.

“I was in exile, but I know he was a very active Swapo member who never compromised. Every time I met Jason he would say one day we would go to Cassinga where his brother John was killed in the attack on 4 May 1978, but unfortunately, we never went there,” Namoloh said.

“We pay tribute to him for having stood firm during the liberation struggle. He was very successful. All of us who grew up with him are deeply sad. We lost a comrade, friend and brother,” he said.

President Hage Geingob also paid respect to Angula this week on social media.

“Comrade Jason Angula, a committed freedom fighter, passed on. As a fearless cadre who faced the enemy on the home front, comrade Jason Angula stood firm on the principle of liberating Namibia. I extend my condolences to the family, comrades and friends. The Swapo party salutes you,” he wrote.

Angula is also remembered as having been part of the Walvis Bay Joint Administrative Authority (JAA), which facilitated the reintegration of Walvis Bay to Namibia. He served as community adviser – first for vice president Nangolo Mbumba and afterwards for Judge president Petrus Damaseb – who were Namibia’s chief executive officers. Other JAA advisers were Joop Robberts, Sackey Akweenda and Nick de Voss.

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