List of colonial governors of South West Africa

Last updated

Colonial governor of South West Africa
Reichskolonialflagge.svg
Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein.jpg
Longest serving
Theodor Leutwein

15 March 1894–19 August 1905
German South West Africa
Formation9 April 1883
First holder Heinrich Vogelsang
Final holder Louis Pienaar
Abolished21 March 1990
Succession President of Namibia

This article lists the 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 (as German South West Africa) and the Union of South Africa.

Contents

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 (1915–1977) and Administrator-General (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

German South West Africa

Map of German South West Africa, 1904. It shows the Penguin Islands, which is rare in maps of this region. Deutsch-Sudwestafrika.png
Map of German South West Africa, 1904. It shows the Penguin Islands, which is rare in maps of this region.
Map of German South West Africa (bordered in red), 1905. 095 deutsch-sudwestafrika (1905).png
Map of German South West Africa (bordered in red), 1905.
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Magistrat
(Magistrate)
Heinrich Vogelsang
(1862–1914)
Acting
9 April 188312 May 188333 days
1 Adolf-Luderitz-2.jpg Adolf Lüderitz
(1834–1886)
12 May 18837 October 18841 year, 148 days
Reichskommissar
(Imperial commissioner)
2 Gustav Nachtigal by Hanfstaengl (cropped).jpg Gustav Nachtigal
(1834–1885)
7 October 188420 April 1885 †195 days
Heinrich Goring.jpg Heinrich Ernst Göring
(1839–1913)
Acting
20 April 1885August 18905 years, 3 months
Louis Nels
(1855–1910)
Acting
August 1890March 18917 months
3 CurtvonFrancois.jpg Curt von François
(1852–1931)
March 1891November 18932 years, 8 months
Landeshauptleute
(Administrator)
3 CurtvonFrancois.jpg Curt von François
(1852–1931)
November 189315 March 18944 months
4 Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein.jpg Theodor Leutwein
(1849–1921)
15 March 189427 June 18951 year, 104 days
27 June 189518 April 18982 years, 295 days
Gouverneur
(Governor)
4 Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein.jpg Theodor Leutwein
(1849–1921)
18 April 189819 August 19057 years, 123 days
Lothar von Trotha.jpg Lothar von Trotha
(1848–1920)
Acting
19 August 1905November 19052 months
5 220px-Lindequist-2.jpg Friedrich von Lindequist
(1862–1945)
November 190520 May 19071 year, 6 months
6 Bruno von Schuckmann.jpg Bruno von Schuckmann
(1857–1919)
20 May 190720 June 19103 years, 31 days
7 Theodor Seitz.jpg Theodor Seitz
(1863–1949)
28 August 19109 July 19154 years, 315 days

South West Africa

Map of South West Africa (Namibia) with bantustans highlighted (red), 1978. Namibia homelands 78.jpeg
Map of South West Africa (Namibia) with bantustans highlighted (red), 1978.
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of office
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Occupation by South Africa
Military Governor
1 Louisbotha.jpg Louis Botha
(1862–1919)
9 July 191511 July 19152 days
2 Percival Scott Beves
(1863/68–1924)
11 July 191530 October 1915111 days
Administrator
3Sir Edmond Gorges
(1872–1924)
31 October 19151 October 19204 years, 336 days
4 Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr (1871-1942).png Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr
(1871–1942)
1 October 192017 December 192077 days
League of Nations mandate (administered by South Africa)
4 Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr (1871-1942).png Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr
(1871–1942)
17 December 19201 April 19265 years, 105 days
5 Albertus Johannes Werth  [ de ]
(1888–1948)
1 April 19261 April 19337 years
6 David Gideon Conradie  [ de ]
(1879–1966)
1 April 19331 April 194310 years
7 Imker Hoogenhout skrywer.jpg Petrus Imker Hoogenhout  [ de ]
(1884–1970)
1 April 19436 December 19518 years, 249 days
8 A. J. R. van Rhijn (1958).jpg Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn  [ de ]
(1890–1971)
6 December 19511 December 19531 year, 360 days
9 Daniel du Plessis Viljoen  [ de ]
(1892–1972)
1 December 19531 December 196310 years
10 Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis  [ de ]
(1904–1988)
1 December 19631 November 19684 years, 336 days
South African occupation of Namibia
11 Johannes van der Wath  [ de ]
(1903–1986)
1 November 19681 November 19713 years
12 Barend van der Walt  [ de ]
(1914–2002)
1 November 19711 September 19775 years, 304 days
Administrator-General
13 Marthinus T. Steyn
(1920–1998)
1 September 19777 August 19791 year, 340 days
14 Gerrit Viljoen
(1926–2009)
7 August 19794 September 19801 year, 28 days
15 Danie Hough
(1937–2008)
4 September 19801 February 19832 years, 150 days
16 Willie van Niekerk
(1937–2009)
1 February 19831 July 19852 years, 150 days
17 Louis Pienaar
(1926–2012)
1 July 198521 March 19904 years, 263 days

See also