Conscientious Objector Support Group

The organisation grew in the context of South African resistance to war, at the time of Apartheid.

COs at the time included those who openly refused to report to the Military, once conscripted, those who were sometimes referred to as draft dodgers, and in due course those who were doing statutory community service.

A 1983 amendment to the South African Defence Act provided for substitute service outside the armed forces for COs complying with certain requirements.

This amendment recognised COs only if they were Religious Objectors (RO's), even if they did not belong to the so-called 'peace churches'.

[1] COs had to appear before a Board for Religious Objectors sitting in Bloemfontein, which ruled on whether they complied with the requirements of the Act.