List of colonial governors of South-West Africa

Map of South-West Africa (Namibia).
Flag of South-West Africa from 1960 to 1990

The following is a list of colonial governors of South-West Africa. South-West Africa was the colonial predecessor of the modern day Republic of Namibia from when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa.

The title of the position changed a number of times. Under German rule, the title of the position went from Commissioner (1884–1893) to Provincial Governor (Landeshauptleute) (1893–1898) to Governor (1898–1915). Under South African rule, the title was Administrator from 1915–1977 and Administrator-General from 1977–1990.

After the United Nations terminated South Africa's mandate to govern South-West Africa, the UN appointed commissioners of its own. They had no authority and South Africa refused to recognize them, and are not included here.

List of governors of South-West Africa

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

Tenure Incumbent Notes
German South-West Africa
Agent of Adolf Lüderitz purchases Angra Pequena (Lüderitz), taking possession on 12 May 1883
9 April 1883 to 12 May 1883Heinrich Vogelsang, acting Magistrate
12 May 1883 to 24 April 1884Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate
German South-West Africa Protectorate
24 April 1884 to 7 October 1884Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate
7 October 1884 to May 1885Gustav Nachtigal, ReichskommissarImperial commissioner
May 1885 to August 1890Heinrich Ernst Göring, acting Reichskommissaracting Imperial commissioner
August 1890 to March 1891Louis Nels, acting Reichskommissaracting Imperial commissioner
March 1891 to 14 September 1892Curt von François, ReichskommissarImperial commissioner
German South-West Africa Crown Colony
14 September 1892 to November 1893Curt von François, ReichskommissarImperial commissioner
November 1893 to 15 March 1894Curt von François, LandeshauptleuteAdministrator
15 March 1894 to 18 April 1898Theodor von Leutwein, LandeshauptleuteAdministrator, acting to 27 June 1895
18 April 1898 to 19 August 1905Theodor von Leutwein, Governor
19 August 1905 to November 1905Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha, acting Governor
November 1905 to 20 May 1907Friedrich von Lindequist, Governor
20 May 1907 to 20 June 1910Bruno von Schuckmann, Governor
28 August 1910 to 9 July 1915Theodor Seitz, Governor
Occupation by South Africa
9 July 1915 to 11 July 1915Louis Botha, Military GovernorSimultaneously served as Prime Minister of South Africa
11 July 1915 to 30 October 1915Percival Scott Beves, Military Governor
31 October 1915 to 1 October 1920Sir Edmond Howard Lacam Gorges, Administrator
1 October 1920 to 17 December 1920Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator
League of Nations mandate (administered by South Africa)
17 December 1920 to 1 April 1926Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator
1 April 1926 to 1 April 1933Albertus Johannes Werth, Administrator
1 April 1933 to 1 April 1943David Gideon Conradie, Administrator
1 April 1943 to 11 December 1946Petrus Imker Hoogenhout, Administrator
11 December 1946South Africa rejects a United Nations Trust Territory status for South-West Africa
11 December 1946 to 6 December 1951Petrus Imker Hoogenhout, Administrator
6 December 1951 to 1 December 1953Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn, Administrator
1 December 1953 to 24 August 1954Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen, Administrator
24 August 1954South Africa announces mandate has lapsed and that "the territory and South Africa are one political entity"
24 August 1954 to 1 December 1963Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen, Administrator
1 December 1963 to 27 October 1966Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator
27 October 1966United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2145 terminates the mandate and puts South-West Africa under direct UN responsibility (not recognized by South Africa)
27 October 1966 to 12 June 1968Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator
12 June 1968South-West Africa formally renamed Namibia by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2372 (not recognized by South Africa)
12 June 1968 to 1 November 1968Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator
1 November 1968 to 30 January 1970Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath, Administrator
30 January 1970United Nations Security Council Resolution 276 declares South Africa in "illegal occupation" of Namibia
30 January 1970 to 1 November 1971Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath, Administrator
1 November 1971 to 1 September 1977Barend Johannes van der Walt, Administrator
1 September 1977 to 7 August 1979Marthinus T. Steyn, Administrator-General
7 August 1979 to 4 September 1980Gerrit Viljoen, Administrator-General
4 September 1980 to 1 February 1983Danie Hough, Administrator-General
1 February 1983 to 1 July 1985Willie van Niekerk, Administrator-General
1 July 1985 to 21 March 1990Louis Pienaar, Administrator-General
21 March 1990Independence as Republic of Namibia

For continuation after independence, see: President of Namibia

See also

External links

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