The South African government in the 1980s enacted mandatory conscription, forcing all young men into two years of military service, often deployed into black townships to enforce state-mandated racial violence.

“Historical records confirm that South Africa's apartheid government enforced mandatory military conscription. The service period was extended to two years in 1977. The South African Defence Force (SADF) was frequently deployed to black townships to suppress anti-apartheid resistance. However, the claim is inaccurate in stating "all young men" were conscripted; this policy applied exclusively to young white men. Context: This policy of conscripting only white males was a cornerstone of the apartheid state's security apparatus. It was used to fight in the South African Border War and to suppress internal dissent, leading to the formation of anti-conscription movements like the End Conscription Campaign.”