My intention was to do non-esoteric research towards my M.Sc that would also be of benefit to my fellow companions on this planet. In short, trying to understand the basis of molecular recognition at the chemical level. Part of the South African Governments master plan of Apartheid was to enforce military service on all white males. We were needed to defend South Africa against Communism and Blacks usually considered one and the same by the Apartheid government. Now some governments have a military for external threats and a police force to maintain civil order.
Incompetent governments use the military for both.
To shorten a long story. If you refused to do military service two things would happen, you could leave the country, or you would be considered a subversive communist. Each of these crimes was dealt with differently, although all were dealt with efficiently. Don't forget these were the days when one was a hero for fighting communism. The former South African governments brilliance was its ability to make fighting communism and maintaining Apartheid one and the same thing.