41-623: Damaraland was a name given to the north-central part of South West Africa , which later became Namibia , inhabited by the Damaras . It was bordered roughly by Ovamboland in the north, the Namib Desert in the west, the Kalahari Desert in the east, and the Windhoek region in the south. In the 1970s the name Damaraland was chosen for a bantustan , intended by the apartheid -era government to be
82-569: A Constituent Assembly were held in November 1989 and the territory became independent as the Republic of Namibia on 21 March 1990. Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands remained under South African control until 1994. Transitional Government of National Unity (Namibia) The Transitional Government of National Unity ( TGNU ) ( Afrikaans : Oorgangsregering van Nasionale Eenheid (ORNE) ),
123-480: A Portuguese colony before 1975), Botswana ( Bechuanaland before 1966), South Africa , and Zambia ( Northern Rhodesia before 1964). During its administration, South Africa applied its own apartheid system in the territory of South West Africa. A German colony known as German South West Africa from 1884 to 1915, it was made a League of Nations mandate of the Union of South Africa following Germany 's defeat in
164-797: A Transitional Government of National Unity is requested from the South African administration, in 1985. On 17 June 1985, the Transitional Government of National Unity was established by the South African Administrator-General through the promulgation of "the South West Africa Legislative and Executive Authority Establishment Proclamation, 1985" (Proclamation R.101 of 1985). Its legislative and executive actions were subject to South African approval, with newly appointed administrator-general Louis Pienaar having
205-639: A case in the International Court of Justice against South Africa alleging that South Africa had not fulfilled its mandatory duties. This case did not succeed, with the Court ruling in 1966 that they were not the proper parties to bring the case. There was a protracted struggle between South Africa and forces fighting for independence, particularly after the formation of the South West Africa People's Organisation ( SWAPO ) in 1960. On 27 October 1966,
246-428: A limited form of home rule, culminating in the formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity . As a German colony from 1884, it was known as German South West Africa ( Deutsch-Südwestafrika ). Germany had a difficult time administering the territory, which experienced many insurrections against the harsh German rule, especially those led by guerrilla leader Jacob Morenga . The main port, Walvis Bay , and
287-577: A self-governing homeland for the Damara people. The bantustan Damaraland was situated on the western edge of the territory that had been known as Damaraland in the 19th century. Following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference the system of Bantustans was replaced in 1980 by Representative Authorities which functioned on the basis of ethnicity only and were no longer based on geographically defined areas. The Representative Authority of
328-582: A three-month rotational basis. The DTA was awarded 22 seats in the National Assembly with five other parties being awarded 8 seats each. Johannes Skrywer would again become Speaker of the National Assembly and Dawid Bezuidenhout would be the first Chairman of the Council of Ministers. The second-tier of governance in South West Africa consisted of ethnic-based Representative Authorities which replaced
369-536: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Namibian history -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . South West Africa South West Africa was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1966, and under South African occupation from 1966 to 1990. Renamed Namibia by the United Nations in 1968, it became independent under this name on 21 March 1990. South West Africa bordered Angola (
410-537: The First World War . Although the mandate was repealed by the United Nations on 27 October 1966, South African control over the territory continued despite its illegality under international law. The territory was administered directly by the South African government from 1915 to 1978, when the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference laid the groundwork for semi-autonomous rule. During an interim period between 1978 and 1985, South Africa gradually granted South West Africa
451-629: The National Party , which enjoyed strong support from the predominantly Afrikaner and ethnic German white population in the territory. Between 1950 and 1977, all of South West Africa's parliamentary seats were held by the National Party. An additional consequence of this was the extension of apartheid laws to the territory. This gave rise to several rulings at the International Court of Justice , which in 1950 ruled that South Africa
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#1732845003213492-713: The National Party of South West Africa (NP), the Rehoboth Free Democratic Party , the South West Africa National Union (SWANU), and the SWAPO Democrats (SWAPO-D). Johannes Skrywer of the DTA, who had been Speaker of the previous assembly established in 1978, was elected as the Speaker of the new assembly. The composition of the National Assembly was as follows: The 8 member Council of Ministers of
533-679: The Penguin Islands were annexed by the UK in 1878, becoming part of the Cape Colony in 1884. Following the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Walvis Bay became part of the Cape Province . As part of the Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty in 1890, a corridor of land taken from the northern border of Bechuanaland , extending as far as the Zambezi River, was added to the colony. It
574-553: The Windhoek Declaration of Basic Principles in 1984 and a Bill of Fundamental Rights and Objectives the following year, resulting in the establishment of a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) on 17 June 1985. Unlike the previous Interim Government, the TGNU was not directly elected but instead consisted of an appointed 62 member National Assembly and an 8-member Council of Ministers which would be led by each member on
615-575: The veto right on all legislation to be passed. The TGNU was perceived as a client government of South Africa that sought moderate reform but was unable to secure recognition by the United Nations. The interim government consisted of a 62-seat National Assembly and an 8-seat Council of Ministers. The assembly was dominated by the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), then an alliance of ethnically based political parties. However,
656-561: The "sole legitimate representative" of Namibia's people, but SWAPO was not invited to the Turnhalle conference and boycotted the subsequent elections. The United Nations Security Council consequently declared the election null and void, and the interim government illegitimate. Following interference by the South African Administrator-General the Council of Ministers resigned, and on 18 January 1983 South Africa accepted
697-568: The Committee on South West Africa to perform the supervisory functions. In another Advisory Opinion issued in 1955, the Court further ruled that the General Assembly was not required to follow League of Nations voting procedures in determining questions concerning South West Africa. In 1956, the Court further ruled that the committee had the power to grant hearings to petitioners from the mandated territory. In 1960, Ethiopia and Liberia filed
738-546: The Council of Ministers on 1 July 1980. Johannes Skrywer, also of the DTA, became Speaker of the National Assembly. The interim government collapsed on 18 January 1983 following the resignation of the Council of Ministers citing interference from the South African government and proposals to create a State Council. Following the collapse of the Interim Government, its legislative and executive powers returned to South African Administrator-General Willie van Niekerk , who
779-527: The Damaras had executive and legislative competencies, being made up of elected Legislative Assemblies which would appoint Executive Committees led by chairmen. As second-tier authorities, forming an intermediate tier between central and local government, the representative authorities had responsibility for land tenure, agriculture, education up to primary level, teachers' training, health services, and social welfare and pensions and their Legislative Assemblies had
820-629: The General Assembly passed resolution 2145 (XXI) which declared the Mandate terminated and that the Republic of South Africa had no further right to administer South West Africa. South African control over the territory nevertheless continued despite its illegality under international law. In 1971, acting on a request for an Advisory Opinion from the United Nations Security Council , the ICJ ruled that
861-533: The Rehoboth Self-Determination Act, 1976. An advisory council was established for San Bushmen in 1986. No representative body was established for Himbas . Local authorities formed the lowest tier of governance in South West Africa. Previously established local government bodies would continue to exist and new ones could be formed. In urban areas, the local authority would be an elected local council. In rural areas where local governance structures
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#1732845003213902-615: The South West Africa Affairs Act, was governed as if it were part of the mandated territory. South West Africa remained a League of Nations Mandate until World War II and the collapse of the League of Nations. The Mandate was supposed to become a United Nations Trust Territory when League of Nations Mandates were transferred to the United Nations following World War II. The Prime Minister , Jan Smuts , objected to South West Africa coming under UN control and refused to allow
943-437: The TGNU was chaired on a three-month rotational basis by its members. The Transitional Government of National Unity was suspended on 28 February 1989 following the signing of a peace agreement the previous year. As stipulated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 , a United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was deployed on 1 April 1989. Elections to a Constituent Assembly were held in November 1989 and
984-546: The ability to pass legislation known as Ordinances. Damaraland, like other homelands in South West Africa, was abolished in May 1989 at the start of the transition to independence . The name Damaraland predates South African control of Namibia, and was described as "the central portion of German South West Africa " in the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition . This Namibia location article
1025-419: The ability to pass legislation known as Ordinances. Unlike the former Bantustans, Representative Authorities functioned on the basis of ethnicity only and were no longer based on geographically defined areas. Representative Authorities were created for Whites , Coloureds , Ovambos , Kavangos , Lozi , Damaras , Namas , Tswanas , and Herero . A similar body had been established for Rehoboth Basters by
1066-495: The continued presence of South Africa in Namibia was illegal and that South Africa was under an obligation to withdraw from Namibia immediately. It also ruled that all member states of the United Nations were under an obligation not to recognise as valid any act performed by South Africa on behalf of Namibia. South West Africa became known as Namibia by the UN when the General Assembly changed
1107-474: The dissolution of both the legislative and the executive body without elections being scheduled, and again assumed full administrative authority over South West Africa. The subsequent void was filled by South African administrators. Willie van Niekerk was appointed administrator-general for South West Africa and Jan F Greebe became chief executive officer. A Judicial Commission was appointed. Urged by United Nations Security Council Resolution 532 to speed up
1148-489: The late 1960s and early 1970s in accordance with the Odendaal Commission , three of which were granted self-rule. These bantustans were replaced with separate ethnicity based second-tier representative authorities in 1980. The South African government convened the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference between 1976 and 1978 with a view to achieving an "internal" solution to the status of South West Africa. The conference
1189-473: The position of the DTA was not as strong as in the previous assembly after the 1978 elections where it occupied 41 out of the 50 seats. This time, the five smaller parties could easily outvote the DTA. The 62 seats in the National Assembly were allocated such that the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) had 22, and five smaller parties got 8 seats each: South West African Labour Party (LP),
1230-475: The previous system of Bantustans that were established in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Each authority would have executive and legislative competencies, being made up of elected Legislative Assemblies who would appoint Executive Committees led by chairmen. Representative Authorities had responsibility for land tenure, agriculture, education up to primary level, teachers' training, health services, and social welfare and pensions and their Legislative Assemblies had
1271-521: The process of releasing the territory into independence, a State Council was established in May 1983. In September this Council was obsoleted by the establishment of the Multi-Party Conference (MPC) which consisted of 19 parties but again excluded SWAPO. The MPC issued the Windhoek Declaration of Basic Principles in 1984 and the Bill of Fundamental Rights and Objectives , wherein the establishment of
Damaraland - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-527: The territory's name by Resolution 2372 (XXII) of 12 June 1968. SWAPO was recognised as representative of the Namibian people , and gained UN observer status when the territory of South West Africa was already removed from the list of non-self-governing territories . In 1977, South Africa transferred control of Walvis Bay back to the Cape Province , thereby making it an exclave . The South African authorities established 10 bantustans in South West Africa in
1353-546: The territory's transition to independence, instead seeking to make it South Africa's fifth province in 1946. Although this never occurred, in 1949, the South West Africa Affairs Act was amended to give representation in the Parliament of South Africa to whites in South West Africa, which gave them six seats in the House of Assembly and four in the Senate . This was to the advantage of
1394-506: The territory, as well as a draft constitution for "a republican, democratic state" to be known as "South West Africa/Namibia" with its own flag and national anthem. Under the proposals, there was to be a three-tiered system of governance. The first tier, the Central Government, would consist of a National Assembly which would appoint a Council of Ministers. The second tier would consist of ethnically based Representative Authorities and
1435-487: The third tier would be made up of Local Authorities. The upper tier of governance consisted of an elected fifty member National Assembly with legislative powers. The assembly would appoint a Council of Ministers with executive powers. Multi-racial elections for the National Assembly were held in December 1978. The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) won 41 of the 50 seats and its leader, Dirk Mudge would become Chairman of
1476-488: Was an interim government for South West Africa ( Namibia ) between June 1985 to February 1989. Following the 1975–1977 Turnhalle Constitutional Conference , the first multiracial elections were held in the occupied territory in 1978, and a National Assembly as well as a Ministers' Council was constituted. Dirk Mudge became chairman of the Ministers' Council. Already in 1972 the United Nations had decreed SWAPO to be
1517-517: Was assisted by and Jan F Greebe as chief executive officer. The Representative Authorities and Local Authorities continued to function as intended during this period. A Multi-Party Conference was established in September 1983 to suggest arrangements for the formation of a new Central Government. Nineteen parties participated in the conference, but again SWAPO was excluded. The Multi-Party Conference issued
1558-518: Was attended by representatives of 11 ethnic groups: Herero , Baster , Tswana , Damara , Ovambo , Lozi , Nama , Kavango , San , the Coloureds , and the Whites . However, the largest freedom movement, SWAPO , was not invited. The conference produced a 29-page document entitled "Petition for the establishment of an interim government" . The petition contained a request to set up an interim government for
1599-422: Was based on traditional customary law, the relevant Representative Authority could support their further development. The Three-tier system of governance was suspended on 28 February 1989 following the signing of a peace agreement the previous year. As stipulated by United Nations Security Council Resolution 435 , a United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was deployed on 1 April 1989. Elections to
1640-782: Was named the Caprivi Strip ( Caprivizipfel ) after the German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi . In 1915, during the South West Africa campaign of World War I , South Africa captured the German colony. After the war, it was declared a League of Nations Class C Mandate territory under the Treaty of Versailles , with the Union of South Africa responsible for the administration of South West Africa. From 1922, this included Walvis Bay, which, under
1681-497: Was not obliged to convert South West Africa into a UN trust territory, but was still bound by the League of Nations Mandate, with the United Nations General Assembly assuming the supervisory role. The ICJ also clarified that the General Assembly was empowered to receive petitions from the inhabitants of South West Africa and to call for reports from the mandatory nation, South Africa. The General Assembly constituted