BIOGRAPHIES OF NAMIBIAN
PERSONALITIES
in alphabetical order
KLAUS DIERKS
Copyright © 2003-2004 Dr. Klaus Dierks
P
001767
Paasio, Kustaa Aadolf
* in Finland
---
Finnish missionary in Namibia.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Namibia National Archives Database
001768
Pabst, Heinrich
* 12.06.1847 at Sankt Goar, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1877
---
Heinrich Pabst was born on 12.06.1847 at Sankt Goar in Germany. He was a missionary of the
Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft. He came to Namibia in 1877. He was stationed in
Keetmanshoop, later in Rietfontein (South).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Namibia National Archives Database
001081
Pagels, Karl Werner
* 23.03.1925 at Rostock, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1953
---
Karl Werner Pagels was born on 23.03.1925 at Rostock in Germany. He was educated at
Rostock. He served in German Army from 1943 to 1944. He came to Namibia in 1953. In 1953
he was a farm manager, 1954 employed in building dams in Ovamboland and in 1957 Technical
Manager of SWA Concrete Products. He was the Managing Director of Precast Industries of
SWA (Pty) Ltd.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Profession: Businessman
Married to: Cordelia Pagels, née Goericke, married 1958-
Father: Werner Pagels
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001769
Pager, Harald
* in Germany
---
Rock art researcher (Brandberg).
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
000244
Palgrave, William Coates
* 31.03.1833 at Windsor, England
+ 21.07.1897 at George, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1860
---
William Coates Palgrave was born on 31.03.1833 at Windsor in England. He came to South
Africa in 1859 to cure tuberculosis. Having joined a travelling-party into the interior,
he arrived in central Namibia in 1860. He was fitted out by Charles John Andersson and
stayed in the country until 1869, leading a life of hunting and prospecting (which
included an attempt to exploit the Ebony mine), but never succeeded in repaying Andersson.
On 28.04.1866 Samuel Afrikaner was involved in a skirmish with the
expedition of William Coates Palgrave at Namutoni. Palgrave was on his way to Ovamboland.
On 05.07.1867 he obtained permission from the Paramount Ovaherero Chief Kamaharero
Maharero to move freely in Hereroland. On 07.06.1868 European settlers in Otjimbingwe
signed a petition addressed to the Cape Governor, Philip Wodehouse, requesting British
protection against the Nama/Orlam communities’ efforts to gain independence, after
Jan Jonker Afrikaner had urged that all Europeans should leave the country (letter to
Hahn: May 1868). The petition was signed by Palgrave who had already visited Ovamboland in
1866 (before missionary Hahn’s visit). From 1869 until his retirement,
he held several posts in the Civil Service of the Cape Colony. On 21.06.1874, in the presence of Frederick Green, Maharero, together with Chief Therawa from
Omaruru and Chief Kambazembi wa Kangombe (Kangombe was Kambazembi’s father) from
Otjozondjupa (Waterberg), requested Henry Barkly as British High Commissioner in the Cape
Colony to prevent a group of Transvaal Boers (Hendrik van Zyl) from settling in
Damaraland. This led the Cape authorities to find a Special Commissioner for Damaraland. On
16.03.1876 William Coates Palgrave was appointed Cape
Special Commissioner for Namaland and Hereroland, to determine their possible annexation
by Britain. The extensive documentary record of his five missions (1876-1877, 1877-1879,
1879, 1880 and 1884-1885) constitutes an important historical source. On 10.04.1876
Palgrave left Cape Town for Walvis Bay (arriving on 25.04.1876)(his
first official journey to the territory). In June 1876 Palgrave visited Chief Kambazembi
wa Kangombe. In July the Ovaherero chiefs and Palgrave held the Conference of Okahandja,
with missionary Brincker as translator. On 07./10.07.1876 Palgrave negotiated with the
Swartbooi leader Abraham Swartbooi at Ameib. From 04. to 09.09.1876 the Ovaherero chiefs
and Palgrave held the Main Conference of Okahandja. Kambazembi did not attend. The letter
to Cape Governor Barkly was signed by Maharero, Christian Wilhelm Zeraua from Omaruru, the
Ovambanderu Chief, Salomo Aponda from Otjikango and Wilhelm Maharero, oldest son of
Maharero. As witnesses the letter was also signed by missionaries Peter Heinrich Brincker,
Carl Ludwig Hermann Hegner and Botolf Bernhard Björklund, and traders Heinrich
Kleinschmidt, Robert Lewis and J.J. Christie. On 23.09.1876 negotiations between Palgrave
and Jan Jonker Afrikaner yielded no results. Two weeks later, on 05.10.1876, negotiations
between Palgrave, Hermanus van Wyk from Rehoboth and Abraham Swartbooi from Ameib took
place at Rehoboth. Later Palgrave also visited the Dama community of Okombahe and reported
that the Dama were economically independent due to their intensive agricultural activities
there. On 27.11.1876 negotiations between Palgrave and Jakobus Isaak were held at Berseba,
following Palgrave’s visit to Claas Swart in Grootfontein (in the south). On
22.12.1876 negotiations between Palgrave and Wilhelm Christian, Chief of the Bondelswarts
(!Gami-#nun), took place at Warmbad. In 1877 Rhenish Missionary Johann Albrecht Friedrich
Böhm moved with the Swartbooi community to Zesfontein but was stopped by Palgrave because
Zesfontein is "Herero territory". On 10.04.1877 Palgrave left the territory and
returned to Cape Town (arrival: 24.04.1877). On 02.08.1877 Palgrave sent a letter to
Maharero informing him that the Cape Government was considering establishing Hereroland as
a protectorate. On 27.09.1877 Palgrave travelled from Cape Town to Walvis Bay (his second
official journey to the territory) and in October he landed in Walvis Bay and travelled as
Civil Commissioner to Okahandja. He implemented a prohibition of alcohol imports into the
territory. In June 1878 he initiated the Conference of Hoachanas, but it was only attended
by Jan Jonker Afrikaner from Windhoek, Chief Gôbeb #Goraxab (Petrus) from Hoachanas and
Karl "Ses" Hendrik from the ||Hawoben. On 18.06.1878 Jakobus Isaak of Berseba
and Moses Witbooi of Gibeon contacted Hermanus van Wyk of Rehoboth to establish a united
front due to their distrust of Palgrave. One day later Isaak and Witbooi communicated this
motion of no-confidence in Palgrave to Maharero. On 08.08.1878 Palgrave requested Jakobus
Isaak to restore "peace and order in the north-east of Namaland". On 22.01.1879,
after failing to "pacify" the Ovaherero and most of the Namaland communities,
Palgrave travelled to the Cape Colony accompanied by Maharero’s sons Wilhelm and
Samuel. On 24.09.1879 Palgrave travelled from Cape Town to Walvis Bay (his third official
journey to the territory)(Trek-Boer Relief Expedition). The purpose of this journey was to
assist a group of Dorsland Trekkers who planned to erect an independent republic at
the west coast. Palgrave received orders to ensure British control over this group. But
Palgrave’s interference and his offer of a permanent settlement in the Kaokoveld was
rejected by the trekkers on the ground that they didn't want to live under British
control. This led to the movement of the Dorsland Trekkers to Angola (with
assistance of William Worthington Jordan). Jakobus Botha was the leader of the first
deputation into Angola through Swartbooisdrift. The trekkers arrived on 04.01.1881 at
Humpata in Angola. Further treks into Angola took place during 1893 and 1905. During the
Angola period of the Dorsland-Trekkers (until 1928) most of the elephants in the
Kaokoveld were massacred by the trekkers. One of the notorious hunters was Jan Harm
Robberts. Robberts’ Boers moved through the Ombuku and Omuhonga Rivers to Okonguati
and Otjiyandjasemo, where many elephants existed. After his unsuccessful encounters with
the trekkers Palgrave returned to Cape Town on 09.11.1879. On 20.01.1880 Palgrave returned
to Walvis Bay (leaving Cape Town on 10.10) as magistrate and Commissioner for Hereroland
(his fourth official journey to the territory), after travelling extensively through the
lands of the Nama and Ovaherero, and after the British Government had turned down Jan
Jonker Afrikaner’s request for protection. In June 1880 Palgrave travelled to Gobabis
to again attempt to "pacify" the Namaland communities. The Witbooi Paul Visser
and Headman Frederik Vlermuis of Gobabis planned an uprising against Palgrave’s
efforts. David Christian Frederiks of Bethany advised Palgrave to leave the territory.
This was the outcome of Palgrave’s third effort to place the territory under Cape
protection. After the outbreak of the war between the Ovaherero and various Nama
communities on 23.08.1880 Palgrave left the territory on 04.09.1880. On 08.11.1884
Palgrave returned to SWA to persuade Maharero to accept British instead of German
protection (his fifth official journey to the territory). On 03.02.1885 Palgrave was
recalled by the Cape authorities. He died on 21.07.1897 at George in South
Africa.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL BUS
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:12, 14-15,17-24, 29-30, 72, 75, 77-81, 83, 99. 236; Drechsler
1966:25-26, 296, 326; Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
000416
Palme, Olof
* 13.70.1922 in Sweden
+ 28.02.1986 at Stockholm, Sweden
---
Olof Palme was born on 30.01.1927 in Sweden as son of a middle class family. He studied
law and became politically involved in the Swedish Social Democrat Party. He was elected
to the Swedish Parliament in 1958, and became Minister of Communications in 1965. From
1968-1976 and 1982-1986, he served as Prime Minister of Sweden. Throughout his political
career, he was a staunch supporter of the Third World, anticolonial and democratisation
movements worldwide. He criticised the US role in Vietnam, Apartheid in South Africa and
military regimes, and the international arms race. Under his leadership, Sweden gave much
material and diplomatic support to Third World Liberation Movements, including SWAPO. He
was an early supporter of the Namibian struggle, and a substantial transfer of
humanitarian aid to Namibian refugees came from Sweden. On 28.02.1986, he was gunned down
in Stockholm while walking home at night from a cinema. The identity of his murderer and
his motif have never been established. - Olof Palme was honoured in independent Namibia by
naming a street in Klein Windhoek after him.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Namibia National Archives Database
001082
Paradisgarten, Hymie Charles
* 25.12.1917 at Keetmanshoop
---
Hymie Charles Paradisgarten was born on 25.12.1917 at Keetmanshoop. He was educated at
Keetmanshoop and Oudtshoorn Boys High School and the University of Cape Town in South
Africa. He was a radiologist at the Windhoek State Hospital. He was the Honorary Secretary
of the Medical Association of SA, SWA Branch from 1953 to 1958. He was the President of
the Medical Association of SA, SWA Branch from 1958 to 1959. He served on numerous boards,
including the SWA Scientific Society and the Museum Society. He was the President of the
Windhoek Hebrew Congregation from 1960 to 1962. He served the Boy Scouts Organisation, the
Road Safety Organisation, the Windhoek Public Library, the Hockey Association, and school
boards. He was a Windhoek Town Councillor.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MED
Profession: Medical practitioner
Married to: Milly Paradisgarten, née Fivelowitz, married 1942-
Father: Abraham Paradisgarten
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001770
Pardey, Heinrich
* 21.12.1880 at Schlüsselburg/Minden, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1908
---
Heinrich Pardey was born on 21.12.1880 at Schlüsselburg/Minden in Germany. He was a
missionary of the Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft. He came to Namibia in 1908. He was
stationed at Grootfontein.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Married to: Ella Pardey, née Jacobs, married 1910
Namibia National Archives Database
001093
Passarge, Siegfried, Prof. Dr.
* 26.02.1867 at Königsberg in East Prussia, Germany (Now: Russian Federation)
---
Siegfried Passarge was born 26.02.1867 at Königsberg in East Prussia in Germany (Now:
Russian Federation). He studied medicine and sciences from 1886 until 1892. He travelled
extensively, i.a. to Cameroon (1893/94), South Africa/Botswana/Namibia (1896/99), South
America (1901/02) and Algeria (1906/07). In 1904/05 he was a lecturer in Geography at
Berlin, from 1905 to 1908 he was Professor of Geology in Breslau and from 1908- in
Hamburg.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Profession: Geographer
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon;
000245
Paterson, Captain
*
---
Captain Paterson hailed from Hamburg in Germany. He was the Captain of the Danish ship
Christine, on which the Hahns travelled to Europe in 1853. Later, he was apparently
employed by De Pass, Spence & Co., and was the Captain of the Seabird.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
001771
Paterson, William
* .1744
+ .1810
First entry to Namibia: 1779
---
W@illiam Paterson was the leader of an expedition to the
Oranje River in 1779. It was Paterson who named the river after the Dutch Royal House of
Oranje.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: DSAB IV;
001094
Pechuel-Loesche, Eduard, Prof.
[Pechuel-Lösche - alternative spelling]
* 26.07.1840 at Zöschen, Germany
+ 29.05.1913 at München, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1884
---
Eduard Pechuel-Loesche was born on 26.07.1840 at Zöschen in Germany. He studied sciences
and geography with a doctorate in Leipzig. He travelled in Africa from 1874 to 76 (Loango
Expedition), from 1881 to 1883 (Congo). 1884 he visited Namibia for the "Deutsche
Kolonialgesellschaft für Südwestafrika", with a brief to buy mining concessions. He
received his habilitation for geography in Jena 1886. From 1895 until 1912 he was a
Professor of Geography at Erlangen. He died on 29.05.1913 at München.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Profession: Geographer
Collections/Papers:
1). Geographisches Seminar Hamburg (400 aquarel paintings from his travels)* Not known if
it contains Namibiana. Not established if still at the institute.
RAW DATA: Dt.Koloniallexikon; Esterhuyse 1968:68;
001095
Pekalski, Elisabeth Magdalena
[Ramin, Elisabeth Magdalena - birth name]
* at Mildenberg, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1949
---
Elisabeth Magdalena Pekalski was educated at Jena in Germany. She came to Namibia in 1949.
She was the owner of the Hotel Sandberg in Mariental.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Marian Zygmunt Pekalski
Father: O. Ramin
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001096
Pekelaar, Bernardus Hendrik
* 09.02.1924 at Cape Town, South Africa
---
Bernardus Hendrik Pekelaar was born on 09.02.1924 at Cape Town in South Africa. He was
educated in Cape Town, at the University of Cape Town. He was the Dutch Honorary Consul
for SWA in 1953 and Manager of Reinforced Concrete Engineering.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Sylvia Pekelaar, née Rodseth, married 1952-
Father: E.W. Pekelaar
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
002194
Peraa, Ovaherero Chief
*
+
---
In ca. 1820 Maharero (or Kamaharero) was born to Ua Tjirue
Tjamuaha and his first wife Otjorozumo, daughter of Ndomo, daughter of Peraa, daughter of
Mbondo, daughter of Mukuejuva of the eanda yomukueyuva (community or clan).
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Traditional leader
Functions: Chief - Ovaherero - before 1810
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001772
Pestalozzi
* in Switzerland
---
Employee of Lüderitz, accompanied Vogelsang on his trip to Bethany 1884.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 19168:39;
001773
Peter, Wilhelm
* 22.08.1876 in Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1906
---
Wilhelm Peter was born on 22.08.1876 in Germany. He was a missionary of the Rheinische
Missionsgesellschaft. He came to Namibia in 1906 and was stationed in Bethany.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Married to: Olga Peter, née Haak, married 1908-
Namibia National Archives Database
000076
Peters, Walter Hermann, Prof. Dr.
* 10.06.1948 at Durban, South Africa
---
Born on 10.6.1948 in Durban, South Africa. Schooling in Neu Hannover and Hermansburg,
South Africa. Studied architecture in Durban, 1967 to 1972 (B.Arch. 1972), Edinburgh
(M.Sc. 1974), Hannover, Germany (Dr.). Teaches architecture in Durban since 1975. The
doctoral dissertation "Baukunst in Südwestafrika 1884 bis 1914" was published
in Windhoek, 1981, and serves as the standard work on the subject. Numerous articles on
colonial architecture in Namibia.
---
Gender: m
Profession: Architect
Namibia National Archives Database
000246
Peters, Wilhelm Karl Hartwig
* 22.04.1815 at Koldenbüttel, Germany
+ 20.04.1883 at Berlin, Germany
---
Wilhelm Karl Hartwig Peters was born on 22.04.1815 at Koldenbüttel in Germany. He was a
natural scientist and travelled extensively in Africa. He was an appointed professor of
medicine in 1851, and in 1856 became professor of zoological collections in Berlin. The
Hahns sent him specimens for his studies on African fauna and flora, for which they
received payment. Peters died on 20.04.1883 at Berlin.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Namibia National Archives Database
001774
Pettinen, August
* in Finland
---
Finnish missionary in Namibia'
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Namibia National Archives Database
000814
Pfeifer, Eduard, Dr.
* 23.03.1900 at Vienna, Austria
+ 01.12.1977 at Swakopmund
First entry to Namibia: 11.1929
---
Eduard Pfeifer was born on 23.03.1900 at Vienna in Austria. He studied agriculture at
Vienna, with a doctoral degree. He came to Namibia in November 1929 and was employed by
the SWA Administration to head the karakul breeding programme at Neudamm and Omatjenne. He
was interned at Andalusia during World War Two from 1941 to 1946, where he taught at the
"camp university". He worked from 1946 until 1956 for the Karakul Breeders
Association, and from 1956 to 1963 for the SWA Administration. He published about karakul
breeding. He was also active in cultural affairs, being a founder member of the Arts
Association, and from 1947 to 1966 Secretary of the SWA Scientific Society. After
retirement, he lived at his farm Brack, and later until his death on 01.12.1977 in
Swakopmund.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR SCI
Profession: Scientist
Functions: Secretary - SWA Scientific Society - 1947-1955
Married to: Editha Pfeifer, née Nappe
Father: Anton Pfeifer
RAW DATA: Mitteilungen Nam.Sci.Soc. 43:7-12(2002):37-38; WWSA 1959; Yearbook KBSSA
17(1975):35-36; Yearbook KBSSA 20(1978):12;
000247
Philip, Jane
* 21.07.1792
+ 22.10.1847
---
Wife of the London Missionary Society's superintendent in South Africa, John Philip, whom
she married in 1809.
---
Gender: f
Married to: John Philip, married 1809-
Namibia National Archives Database
000248
Philip, John
* 14.04.1777 at Kirkcaldy, Scotland
+ 27.08.1851 at Hankey, Cape, South Africa
---
John Philip was born on 14.04.1777 at Kirkcaldy in Scotland. He was the Superintendent of
the London Missionary Society in South Africa from 1819 to 1847. He came to South Africa
in 1819. He became influential in South African politics, promoting the abolition of
slavery in the 1820s and 1830s. Two doctor titles were bought for him by the London
Missionary Society to enhance his status. He was married to Jane Ross in 1809. He died on
27.08.1851 at Hankey, Cape Colony in South Africa.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Married to: Jane Philip, née Ross (1792-1847), married 1809-1847
Namibia National Archives Database
001098
Philip, Thomas Peter
* 20.10.1923 at Belleville, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1962
---
Thomas Peter Philip was born on 20.10.1923 at Belleville in South Africa. He was educated
at Lydenburg, Stellenbosch University in South Africa and the University Arizona in the
United States. He was an engineer. He came to Namibia in 1962. He was the Superintendent
of Smelters in Tsumeb from 1968 to 1971. He was an Asst. General Manager of the Tsumeb
Corporation.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ENG
Profession: Engineer
Married to: Adriana Petronella Philip, née van Schalkwyk, married 1954-
Father: David Henderson Philip
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001775
Pienaar, Peter
*
First entry to Namibia: 1793
---
Peter Pienaar joined an expedition on the ship Meermin to Walvis Bay in 1793, on behalf of
Willem van Reenen, and travelled along the Swakop River. It is not clear whether this is
the same Pienaar who was killed by Jonker Afrikaner.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:7;
001099
Piennaar, Michael Johannes
* 23.05.1912 at Lichtenburg, South Africa
---
Michael Johannes Piennaar was born on 23.05.1912 at Lichtenburg in South Africa. He was
educated in Zwartruggens, the Pretoria University, and in Germany. He came to Namibia in
1955. He was a Manager of Old Mutual SWA.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Käthe Pienaar, née Hartel, married 1940
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001776
Piers, Charles
*
---
Cape Colony special commissioner to Namaland, 1868.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Esterhuyze 1968:16;
001100
Pieters, Jan Hermanus
* .1873 in Netherlands
+ .1911
---
Jan Hermanus Pieters was born in 1873 in the Netherlands. He was of Dutch origin. He was
employed by the Kaiserliche Eisenbahnkommando in SWA from 1901 until 1906 and the Otavi
Minen und Eisenbahngesellschaft from 1906 to 1911 when he died.
---
Gender: m
Collections/Papers:
1). NAN: A.11 (Personal papers)
RAW DATA: NAN List of Accessions;
001777
Pieters, Sid
*
---
Businessman, minerals collector and trader.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Namibia National Archives Database
000249/001101 *Duplicate entry into Namibia National Archives Database
Piirainen, Andreas (Antti)
* in Finland
+ 12.05.1910 at Omaruru
First entry to Namibia: 1868
---
Andreas (Antti) Piirainen was a Finnish mission assistant who landed at Walvis Bay
together with six Finnish missionaries (inter alia Martti Rautanen and Botolf Bernhard
Björklund) on 14.02.1869. He was a member of the party which left Otjimbingwe for
Ovamboland on 27.05.1870. After a meeting with Ondonga King Shikongo sha Kalulu
(1859-1874) at Omandongo on 10.07.1870, it was decided that Piirainen should leave for the
Uukwambi area together with Rautanen, Weikkolin and Kurvinen, while the others remained
behind in the Ondonga area. His bride arrived at Otjimbingwe on April or May 1871, and
they were married at the station shortly afterwards. The main purpose of his coming to the
territory was to teach handicraft, but as the local chiefs required the services of the
mission assistants virtually for themselves, this objective could not be realised, and in
1872 he moved to Omaruru, where he erected his own property, but was killed in an accident
while building his house on 12.05.1910. The Rev. August Kuhlmann of the Rhenish Missionary
Society purchased and completed it, and it became known as the second mission house at
Omaruru.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL BUS
Profession: Mission assistant
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
001779
Pilet, Ms
*
---
Ms Pilet was a farmer's wife from Frauenstein. It was alleged that she have been killed in
the German Ovaherero War of 1904, an atrocity story which was later found untrue.
---
Gender: f
Married to: Charlotte Krenz, née Nickel, married 1928-
Mother: Mary Francis Krenz, née Talbot-Bowe
Father: Friedrich Krenz
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:170;
001102
Pillay, Vella
*
---
Vella Pillay was an international economist. He was a Director of the Greater London
Enterprise Board, and Vice-Chairman of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement. As such, he
was also involved in solidarity for Namibia.
---
Gender: m
Namibia National Archives Database
000589
Pitter, Daniel
[Pitters, Daniel]
*
---
Also called Daniel Magistraat. An office-bearer under Hendrik Witbooi. His wife's name was
Hanna.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Hanna Pitter
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:96;
000590
Pitter, Jakob
[Zoardeb - Nama name]
* 15.11.1872 (?) at Gibeon
+ 10.1888 at near Zwartmodder
---
Jakob Pitter was born on 15.11.1872 (?) at Gibeon. He was a Witbooi who was killed by
lightning near Zwartmodder in October 1888 while pursuing Manasse !Noreseb's war party.
This is probably the same Jakob Pitter who is mentioned as messenger ("bode") in
Hendrik Witbooi's list of officials of 23.09.1888; it is not clear whether he was the
Jakob Pitter who according to the Gibeon church book was born on 15.11.1872.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Lau 1995:245
000591
Pitter, Jakob
*
---
Jakob Pitter is mentioned as a "veldkornet" in Hendrik Witbooi's proclamation to
the Hoornkrans community on 06.04.1893.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Lau 1995:245;
001778
Platje, Paulus
*
+ .1905 in Namibia
---
Paulus Platje was a teacher in Koës. He was accused of spying, and executed in 1905 by
the Germans.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: EDU
RAW DATA: JBRMG 1905:22;
001103
Plietz, Albert
* 06.04.1884 in Germany
---
Albert Plietz was born on 06.04.1884 in Germany. He was educated in Germany. He was a
mechanical engineer. He came to Namibia (or South Africa?) in 1905.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ENG
Married to: Gertrude Plietz, née Rosner, married 1910
Father: Albert Plietz
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001780
Plewzke, Lieutenant
*
---
Schutztruppe officer, "Etappenkommandant" in Omaruru.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
RAW DATA: Drechsler 1966:357;
002182
Plichta, Oskar Valentine
[Plichta, Hampie]
* 05.11.1934 at Keetmanshoop
+ 29.06.2001 at Windhoek
---
Oskar Valentina Plichta was born on 05.11.1934 at Keetmanshoop. He studied civil
engineering at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He joined the National
Party of SWA in the 1950s. In 1978 he joined the Republican Party (DTA) and supported the
DTA in various functions in Keetmanshoop. In 1992 he joined SWAPO. For many years he was
the Mayor of Keetmanshoop. He was a founding member and chair person of the Southern
Tourist Forum (STF). He always supported the economic and tourist interests of Namibia's
south. In March 1995 he was appointed by President Sam Nujoma as Minister for Works,
Transport and Communication and as a non-voting member of the National Assembly
(Constitutional quota of six non-voting members of the National Assembly, appointed by the
President of the Republic of Namibia). He retired on 20.03.2000 and returned to
Keetmanshoop. He died on 29.06.2001 in Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Civil Engineer
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
000717
Poech, Rudolf
*
---
Austrian ethnographer and physical anthropologist who did fieldwork in Namibia and
Botswana.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: SCI
Collections/Papers:
* Possibly in the archives of Akademie der Wissenschaften or Institute of Ethnography,
Vienna/Austria
000542
Pohamba, Hifikepunye Lucas
* 18.08.1935 at Okanghudi
---
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba was born at Okanghudi on 18.08.1935. He was educated at the
Anglican Holy Cross mission school at Onamunama from 1947 to 1954. Later he worked at the
Tsumeb copper mine. Pohamba joined SWAPO in April 1959. Pohamba returned home to
Ovamboland at the end of his contract, becoming an organiser for SWAPO. He was arrested by
the South African Native Commissioner and was handed over to the Tribal Authorities who
chained him to a pole because there was no jail at Ondangwa and was flogged 24 strokes. He
was told to leave Ovamboland under threat that his father, who was a headman, would have
his area confiscated. He went into exile three times - first in 1961 when he left via
Rundu pretending to be an Angolan looking for work in South Africa. He signed up hoping to
escape but was kept in a compound in Botswana and taken to work on a gold mine near
Johannesburg. Pohamba escaped from the mine compound and travelled to Dar-es-Salaam via
Botswana and Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia) to arrive at the time of independence
of Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania), meeting Sam Nujoma for the first time as well as
Hidipo Hamutenya. After a meeting of the SWAPO exile group it was decided that he and
others should go return to Namibia to mobilise the people back home. He was arrested in
Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) 1972 and spent a month in jail in Bulawayo. He was
deported to Johannesburg in August 1962 where he was arrested but released and put in the
Carlton Hotel for some days pending his return to Windhoek by train. He met other SWAPO
members including Aaron Hamutenya, Hidipo Hamutenya's father. Pohamba was again arrested
and tried for illegally leaving the country. He spent six months in jail before returning
to Ovamboland and put under house arrest. At a large meeting between Ovamboland chiefs and
the South African Minister for Bantu Affairs, De Wet Nel, SWAPO supporters under Simon
Kaukungua asked provocative questions. When the chiefs in their embarrassment challenged
the SWAPO supporters, they got up and left taking most of the people with them. When the
chiefs later tried to threaten the SWAPO group with rifles the people opposed tem with
knives and the chiefs were forced to withdraw. Kaukungua and Pohamba left into exile in
1964 with police hunting them. He opened the SWAPO offices in Lusaka in August 1964 where
he met Mishake Muyongo from CANU and was involved in discussions concerning a merger
between SWAPO and CANU. On 20 March 1966, he accompanied Sam Nujoma on his flight to
Windhoek, challenging the South African claim that there was no ban on the movement of
SWAPO leaders in and out of the country. They were detained and deported to Livingstone in
Zambia on the next day. He moved to Dar-Es-Salaam and was appointed Deputy Administrative
Secretary on the SWAPO Central Committee at the 1969 Tanga Consultative Congress. Pohamba
moved to Lusaka and was transferred to Algeria 1971 as Chief Representative for northern
Africa. He was appointed Secretary for Finance and Administration in the SWAPO Politburo
at the enlarged meeting of the SWAPO Executive in Lusaka 1975 (until the date of
independence on 21.03.1990). He became the SWAPO Chief of Operations in Lusaka/Zambia in
1979. Pohamba was transferred to the SWAPO Head Quarter in Luanda/Angola 1982. He studied
in the USSR 1981/82. Pohamba was appointed Minister of Home Affairs at Independence
(1990-1995), then Minister for Fisheries (1995-1997), later Minister without Portfolio
(1997-2000), SWAPO Secretary-General (2000-2002) and Minister of Lands Resettlement and
Rehabilitation (2002-). During the SWAPO Central Committee Meeting from 02.04.2004 to
03.04.2004 in Windhoek, Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (proposed by Sam Nujoma), Nahas Angula
(proposed by Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, seconded by Libertine Amathila) and Hidipo Hamutenya
(proposed by Mosé Penaani Tjitendero, seconded by Hartmut Ruppel) were elected as the
three SWAPO presidential candidates for the Presidential Election 2004 in order to succeed
the President of the Republic of Namibia, Sam Nujoma.The sole SWAPO presidential candidate
will be elected during an Extraordinary SWAPO Congress at the end of May 2004.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL
Profession: Politician
Married to: Penny Pohamba, née Hasho, married 1983-
Father: Pohamba Hamukoto
Mother: Kaupumote Pohamba née Nghituwamata
Collections/Papers:
1). Namibia Handbook and Political Who's Who, 1990 (Pütz, Von Egidy and Caplan)
2). Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks)
RAW DATA: Dickie/Rake 1973;
001782
Pohl, Dr.
* in Germany
---
Mining engineer, led an expedition to Namibia in the employ of Lüderitz, 1885.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: ENG
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:89-90, 122;
001781
Pönnighaus, Friedrich
* .1885 in Germany
+ .1975
---
Friedrich Pönnighaus was born in 1885 in Germany. He was a missionary of the Rheinische
Missionsgesellschaft. Pönnighaus was the leader of the Paulinum at Karibib, a college to
train Namibian Evangelical-Lutheran theologists, during the 1950s. He was in contrast to
the most Rhenish missionaries one of the few (together with Heinrich Rust) who did not
support the Nazi ideology in SWA and later the South African Apartheid ideology.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
RAW DATA: Chronology of Namibian History, 2003 (Dierks);
002315
Pönnighaus, Ursula
* 06.05.1924 at Swakopmund
+ 02.01.2004 at Wuppertal/Germany
---
Ursula Pönnighaus was the daughter of Rhenish Missionary Friedrich Pönnighaus and was
born on 06.05.1924 at Swakopmund. She was a missionary herself and was in contrast to the
most Rhenish missionaries one of the few who did not support the South African Apartheid
ideology. She started to assist her father at the Paulinum in Karibib as from May 1953.
From 1964 she took over the Rhenish missionary station of Okombahe. She also served on the
Board of the Rhenish Missionary Society as from 1963. In the same year she started service
at the missionary station of Omatjette and thereafter at Rehoboth. From 1968 to 1978
Pönnighaus was shifted again to Karibib in order to edit the church magazine
"Immanuel". She also served the congregation of the "white" Deutsche
Lutherische Evangelische Kirche (DELK) at Karibib. Due to her critical attitude towards
the South Apartheid policy which was supported by the overwhelming majority of German
speaking Namibians, she was forced to leave the DELK. From 1981 to 1983 she served the
"black" Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELC) in Windhoek. She went on retirement in
October 1983 and went back to Germany where she worked at the head quarter of the Rhenish
Missionary Society in Wuppertal until 1986. There she died on 02.01.2004.
---
Gender: f
Field of activity: REL
Profession: Missionary
Father: Friedrich Pönnighaus
Mother: Martha Pönnighaus
RAW DATA: Obituary: Allgemeine Zeitung: 22.01.2004;
001783
Poppe, C.
*
---
An agent of Lüderitz.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Rohlfs 1884:13;
001668
Pöppl, Alfred
* 13.04.1879
---
Schutztruppe officer.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
Profession: Military officer
RAW DATA: Fischer 1935:143;
001090
Power, Phillip Terry
* .1898 at County Cork, Ireland
First entry to Namibia: 1936
---
Phillip Terry Power was born in 1898 at County Cork in Ireland. He was educated at the St.
Colman College in County Cork in Ireland. He was an accountant with the South African
Railways & Harbours. He came to Namibia in 1936. He served in the two world
wars, from 1914 to 1918 and from 1939 to 1946.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001109
Preiss, Willy Max
* 30.04.1928 at Swakopmund
---
Willy Max Preiss was born on 30.04.1928 at Swakopmund. He was educated at Swakopmund and
Vereeniging in South Africa. From 1950 to 1953 he was an electrician at the Swakopmund
power station and from 1954 to 1962 installation inspector at the Windhoek Municipality.
In 1963 he founded the "Rocks and Gems" lapidary shop.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Edith Beatrice Preiss, née Verster, married 1953
Father: Willy Max Preiss
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001784
Prescher, Paul
*
---
Was in Namibia 1884 in the employ of Lüderitz to search for copper.
---
Gender: m
RAW DATA: Esterhuyse 1968:89;
002050
Pretorius, Jacobus Willem Francois (Kosie)
* 05.09.1935 at Swakopmund
---
Jacobus Willem Francois (Kosie) Pretorius was born on 05.09.1935 at Swakopmund. He was
educated at Otjiwarongo. He received a B.A. and a M.A. (Pol.Sc.) from the University of
the Orange Free State (O.F.S.). He was the Organising Secretary of the Afrikaanse
Studentebond from 1957 to 1958. He was a farmer since1959-. He was the First Chairman of
the Junior Rapportryers in Windhoek from 1960 to 1981. He served as Chief Secretary of the
National Party from 1961 until 1969. He was the Deputy Chairman of the SWA National Party
from 1977 until 1981. He represented the Gobabis Constituency in the SWA
"all-white" Legislative Assembly from 1962 to 1989. He served on the SWA
Executive Committee from 1969 until 1988. He was the Chairman of the SWA Executive
Committee of the "Administration for Whites" from 1981 to 1988. He served
as Minister of the Interim's Government for Water Affairs, Post and Telecommunications
from 1988 to 1989. He was the Leader of the NPSWA from 1981 until 1991 (changed to an
opinion forming pressure group "Monitor Action Group (MAG) in 1991)". He was
elected to the Constituent Assembly for Namibia 1989-1990. He is a Member of the National
Assembly for "MAG" from 1990-. He is the Chairman of the Monitor Action Group
since 1991-.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: POL AGR
Profession: Politician Farmer
Married to: Drix Pretorius, née Potgieter, married 1962-
Father: Pieter Jacobus Pretorius
Mother: Catherine Maria Dorothea Pretorius née Koch
RAW DATA: WWSA 1995-96;
001110
Pretorius, Marthinus Theunis
* 11.06.1920 at Klerksdorp, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 1946
---
Marthinus Theunis Pretorius was born on 11.06.1920 at Klerksdorp in South Africa. He was
educated at the Paarl Boys High School and the University of Cape Town. He came to Namibia
in 1946. He was a land surveyor, councillor and Deputy Mayor in Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Pearl Charlotte Pretorius, née Meneke, married 1948-
Father: Andries Petrus Pretorius
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001111
Pretorius, Pieter Jacobus
* 16.03.1901 at Cradock, South Africa
First entry to Namibia: 04.1929
---
Pieter Jacobus Pretorius was born on 16.03.1901 at Cradock in South Africa. He was
educated at the Cradock Boys High School. He came to Namibia in 1929. He was a farmer at
Okanjande, and politician. He was a Member of the Meat Control Board from 1946 until 1951.
He was the Chairperson of the S.W.G.A.C. from 1949 to 1950. He was the Chairperson of the
Otjiwarongo Show Society from 1948 to 1949. He was a Member of the SWA Legislative
Assembly from 1950-. He was an elder of the Dutch Reformed Church (D.R.C.) from 1952
to 1956.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: AGR
Profession: Farmer
Married to: Catharina Maria Dorothea Pretorius, née Koch, married 1933-
Father: Jacobus Willem Francois Pretorius
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001112
Priflinger, Josef
* 13.12.1892 at Augsburg, Germany
First entry to Namibia: 1913
---
Josef Priflinger was born on 13.12.1892 at Augsburg in Germany. He was educated in
Germany. He came to Namibia in 1913 and joined the Deutsche Afrika-Bank. He started his
own business in 1932. He was a Registered Accountant of J. Priflinger and G. Roll in
Windhoek.
---
Gender: m
Married to: Hildegard Priflinger, née Mueller, married 1924
Father: Johan Priflinger
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959;
001785
Prinsloo, Hendrik Frederik
* .1890
+ .1966
---
South African officer who tracked down the !Gami-#nun leader Abraham Morris in the 1922
Bondelswart War against the South Africans.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: MIL
RAW DATA: DSAB IV;
001114
Pupkewitz, Harold
* 14.07.1915 at Vilna, Poland (now: Lithuania)
First entry to Namibia: 1925
---
Harold Pupkewitz was born on 14.07.1915 at Vilna in Poland (now: Lithuania). He was
educated at the Windhoek High School. He received a B.Com. from the University of Cape
Town. He is a businessman, Managing Director of Pupkewitz Holdings (Pty) Ltd. and director
of various companies. He is the Hon. Life President of the Windhoek Hebrew Congregation.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Ethel Pupkewitz, née Meyerovitz, married 1952-
Father: Max Pupkewitz
RAW DATA: WWSA 1959; WWSA 1974; WWSA 1995-96
001115
Pupkewitz, Julius
* 07.10.1919 at Vilna, Poland (now: Lithuania)
First entry to Namibia: 1925
---
Julius Pupkewitz was born on 07.10.1919 at Vilna in Poland (now: Lithuania). He was
educated at the Windhoek High School and the University of Cape Town. He is a businessman.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Father: Max Pupkewitz
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
001116
Pupkewitz, Morris
* 19.07.1914 at Vilna, Poland (now: Lithuania)
First entry to Namibia: 1925
---
Morris Pupkewitz was born on 19.07.1914 at Vilna, Poland (now: Lithuania). He is a
businessman and director of various companies.
---
Gender: m
Field of activity: BUS
Married to: Rose Pupkewitz, née Sanders, married 1944-
Father: Max Pupkewitz
RAW DATA: WWSA 1974;
 TO
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