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Secrets of South West Africa: How did the German colony turn into South African rule?
South West Africa was administered by South Africa from 1915 to 1966, and then occupied by South Africa from 1966 to 1990. Since 1968, the League of Nations renamed it Namibia and gained independence on March 21, 1990. This territory is bordered by Angola (a Portuguese colony until 1975), Botswana (formerly known as Bijowana), South Africa and Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia). Under the administration of South Africa, South and West Africa implemented its own system of apartheid, which makes the history of this place very complex and intriguing.
German colonial rule left a profound impact that continued to manifest in subsequent rule in South Africa.
As a colony of Germany, South West Africa was known as German South West Africa between 1884 and 1915. Germany encountered numerous difficulties in administering the region, and the local indigenous people carried out several rebellions against the harsh German rule, the most notable of which was the resistance of the guerrilla leader Jacob Molenka. The main port of Walvis Bay was occupied by the British in 1878 and became part of the Cape of Good Hope colony. With the establishment of the Commonwealth of South Africa in 1910, Walvis Bay was also incorporated into the Cape Province.
During World War I, South Africa occupied this German colony in 1915 . After the war, the Treaty of Versailles declared South West Africa a trusteeship of the League of Nations and handed over to the Federation of South Africa. However, South Africa’s control of the region has sparked international controversy, especially after South Africa attempted to keep it from being transferred to UN control. This series of events eventually led to an ongoing conflict between South Africa and the local independence movement.
On October 27, 1966, the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2145 declaring the termination of South Africa's trusteeship of the region and requiring its immediate evacuation.
With the establishment of the People's Organization of South West Africa (SWAPO) in 1960, the struggle for independence intensified. The rise of the SWAPO marked the formal representation of the local independence movement, while the South African government sought to maintain control over South and West Africa by establishing its own three-tiered system of governance. This system gradually developed from 1980 to 1989, but failed to achieve true autonomy.
In 1989, under multi-party struggles and international pressure, South Africa finally ceased its rule over South and West Africa and, under the supervision of the United Nations, conducted elections for the People's Congress, eventually declaring Namibia's independence in 1990.
Namibia’s independence was not only a victory for the local people, but also a reflection on the continuing impact of colonialism.
During this decades-long history, it is worth exploring how German colonial rule influenced subsequent governance in South Africa, especially in terms of racial policy and social structure. In practice, both economically and socially, this shift has had a long-term impact on the lives of local residents. Today, Namibia is a proudly independent country, but the shadow of its history is still visible in today’s society.
Over time, can we truly understand and solve the various problems left by this history to make Namibia's future brighter and healthier?
