| 1955 |
The UN General Assembly
approaches the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an opinion on whether or not a
two-thirds majority is required for decisions of the Assembly relating to the examination
of reports on the administration of SWA compiled by the UN Permanent Committee on SWA. The
Court rules in favour of the two-third majority rule.
The South West Africa Progressive Association (SWAPA) is formed in Windhoek, its members
being teachers, clerks and "intellectuals", whose purpose is to lobby for better
"black" education (in 1958, 127 823 SA Pounds were allocated by the SWA
Administration for 9 969 "black" school children in schools within the
"Police Zone" and 36 117 SA Pounds for 18 350 children outside the "Police
Zone" (mainly Ovamboland)). It encompasses both the political and economic
advancement of "blacks". Uatja Kaukuetu is chairman. Tunguru Huaraka is
Secretary-General.
Tsumeb mine workers go on strike.
Leonard Auala and Jason Amakutuwe from ELOK are invited to commence theology studies in
Finland. The SA authorities refuse to issue passports to them.
The functions of the "Okavango Native Territory" revert, by Proclamation No. 32
of 1937, to the SA Minister of Bantu Administration and Development.
Karl Friedrich Lempp from the Allgemeine Zeitung is replaced by Werner Bertelsmann. |
| March |
In response to Malan’s
statement that the mandate over SWA had lapsed, a group of local Afrikaners and Germans
form the Mandate Party to campaign for the maintenance of the territory’s mandatory
status. |
| 18.04. |
SWACTA and SWACPB direct a petition
to the SWA Administration and the South African Department of Native Affairs for the
creation of a new "coloured" township in Windhoek. SWACTA also requests the
establishment of a Council for Coloured Affairs. The "coloured" population in
Windhoek is represented by a "coloured" member on the Native Advisory Board of
the Old Location. |
| 09.07. |
David Witbooi, chief of the Witbooi
Nama since 1928, dies. His successor is Hendrik Samuel Witbooi. 
Graves of the Witbooi Dynasty at the Gibeon Cemetery: Tomb Stone for David Witbooi
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
|
| 25.08. |
Ovaherero leave the Rhenish Mission
to join the "Oruuano Movement" (Oruuano means in Otjiherero: Communion), which
demands the reallocation of land. The leader of the "Anti-Apartheid church" is
one of the first Ovaherero to have been ordained by the Rhenish Mission in 1949, Reinhard
Ruzo. Hosea Kutako plays an important role in the formation of the "Oruuano
Church". However, the Rhenish Mission regards the Oruuano Church as a "new
heathen sect" which is developed as a consequence of nationalist "confusion
and false doctrine". In contrast to this attitude, missionary Werner Wienecke
declares that "White missionaries that we are, we share the blame of our white
brothers and sisters, who call themselves Christians". |
| November |
Preses Diehl leads a Rhenish
delegation at the first All-Africa Lutheran Conference in Marangu, Tanzania, organised by
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Diehl reports that there is "an awakening
nationalism especially among the Herero, [which had] brought a certain revival of
the old ancestor worshipping". From the Evangelical Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango
Church (ELOK)(founded 1954 from the ex-Finnish Mission) Leonard Auala, Jason Amakutuwe and
Efraim Angula participate. |
| 16.11. |
The National Party of SWA is again
victorious in elections for the Legislative Assembly. The Independent Economic Party
(former Mandate Party) is unsuccessful. |
| December |
A Missionary Conference under the
leadership of preses Diehl takes place in Okahandja to discuss the relationship between
the Mission and the German Evangelical Lutheran Church (DELK) in SWA. It becomes clear
that there are conflicting loyalties between German and "black" parishes. The
German synod in SWA should get greater independence and thus better prospects for
recruiting pastors in Germany. Despite the more "liberal" views of some of the
younger missionaries, many of the Rhenish missionaries still share the apartheid ideology
of the NP of SWA. |
| 1956 |
The ICJ continues to deal with
the SWA problem in an advisory capacity. It confirms the UN General Assembly’s right
to adopt resolutions on SWA, and to grant oral hearings to petitioners (Michael Scott,
Mburumba Kerina (Getzen), Jariretundu Kozonguizi, Hans Beukes, Markus Kooper, Sam Nujoma,
Ismael Fortune, Jacob Kuhangua and Hosea Kutako). This gives new impetus to the political
socialisation and consciousness of "black" leaders in the territory.
A new round of negotiations commences in New York between the UN and SA on the SWA issue.
The UN Permanent Committee on SWA continues its work, but its efforts end in failure. From
various petitions submitted to the Permanent Committee, it can be concluded that SA’s
policies on SWA violate the provisions of the original "Mandate Agreement".
The Uniao das Populacoes de Angola joins the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
(MPLA) in Angola.
The Herero Chiefs’ Council sends Mburumba Kerina as petitioner to the UN.
Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late
Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: Mburumba Kerina: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
Leonard Auala, Jason Amakutuwe and Efraim Angula from ELOK are allowed
to study theology in South Africa (Oskarsberg), but only for one year.
The SWA Railway Administration asks the SA Parliament to authorise the "
dieselisation" of the whole SWA railway system and simultaneously to allow the
broadening of the northern narrow-gauge line between Usakos and Tsumeb/ Grootfontein/
Outjo.
401 Dama from Augeigas (present-day Daan Viljoen game reserve) are resettled against their
will in Otjohorongo.
The question of the |Hai-|khauan captaincy in Berseba continues as an important, though
dormant issue. It comes to a head when the Goliath headman David Vries dies. Only the
headman Edward Isaak Jr. remains as the leader of the Berseba community.
Intensive exploration activities lead to the discovery of substantial bodies of copper-
lead ore in the Asis mining area. As a consequence, the modern Kombat mine comes into
operation in 1962.
The Gorob and Hope Mines are started by the Mineral Trading Company of South West Africa
but closed again one year later.
Prospecting for radioactive minerals takes place near Rössing. |
| February |
Construction of the new salt-gravel
road from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay, the "Jan Loopuyt coastal road", commences. |
| 06.05. |
Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma marries
Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune. |
| 21.05. |
SA Prime Minister JG Strijdom
confirms his country’s right to incorporate SWA into the Union of South Africa. |
