List of colonial governors of South West Africa
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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 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
(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)
| Tenure | Portrait | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| German South West Africa | |||
| 9 April 1883 to 12 May 1883 | Heinrich Vogelsang, acting Magistrate |
Agent of Adolf Lüderitz, purchased Angra Pequena (Lüderitz Bay) | |
| 12 May 1883 to 24 April 1884 |  |
Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate |
|
| Protectorate | |||
| 24 April 1884 to 7 October 1884 | |
Adolf Lüderitz, Magistrate |
|
| 7 October 1884 to May 1885 |  |
Gustav Nachtigal, Reichskommissar |
Imperial commissioner |
| May 1885 to August 1890 |  |
Heinrich Ernst Göring, acting Reichskommissar |
acting Imperial commissioner; father of Hermann Göring |
| August 1890 to March 1891 | Louis Nels, acting Reichskommissar |
acting Imperial commissioner | |
| March 1891 to 14 September 1892 |  |
Curt von François, Reichskommissar |
Imperial commissioner |
| Crown Colony | |||
| 14 September 1892 to November 1893 | |
Curt von François, Reichskommissar |
Imperial commissioner |
| November 1893 to 15 March 1894 | Curt von François, Landeshauptleute |
Administrator | |
| 15 March 1894 to 18 April 1898 |  |
Theodor Leutwein, Landeshauptleute |
Administrator, acting to 27 June 1895 |
| 18 April 1898 to 19 August 1905 | Theodor Leutwein, Governor |
||
| 19 August 1905 to November 1905 |  |
Lothar von Trotha, acting Governor |
Most remembered for his role in the Herero Wars, particularly in the Herero and Namaqua genocide |
| November 1905 to 20 May 1907 |  |
Friedrich von Lindequist, Governor |
|
| 20 May 1907 to 20 June 1910 |  |
Bruno von Schuckmann, Governor |
|
| 28 August 1910 to 9 July 1915 |  |
Theodor Seitz, Governor |
Surrendered to South African forces, together with Oberstleutnant Franke's colonial troops |
| South West Africa | |||
| Occupation by South Africa | |||
| 9 July 1915 to 11 July 1915 |  |
Louis Botha, Military Governor |
Simultaneously served as Prime Minister of South Africa |
| 11 July 1915 to 30 October 1915 | Percival Scott Beves, Military Governor |
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| 31 October 1915 to 1 October 1920 | Sir Edmond Howard Lacam Gorges, Administrator |
||
| 1 October 1920 to 17 December 1920 | Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator |
||
| League of Nations mandate (administered by South Africa) | |||
| 17 December 1920 to 1 April 1926 | Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr, Administrator |
||
| 1 April 1926 to 1 April 1933 | Albertus Johannes Werth, Administrator |
||
| 1 April 1933 to 1 April 1943 | David Gideon Conradie, Administrator |
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| 1 April 1943 to 6 December 1951 | Petrus Imker Hoogenhout, Administrator |
On 11 December 1946, South Africa rejects a United Nations Trust Territory status for South West Africa | |
| 6 December 1951 to 1 December 1953 | Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn, Administrator |
||
| 1 December 1953 to 1 December 1963 | Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen, Administrator |
On 24 August 1954, South Africa announces mandate has lapsed and that "the territory and South Africa are one political entity" | |
| 1 December 1963 to 1 November 1968 | Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis, Administrator |
On 27 October 1966, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2145 terminates the mandate and puts South West Africa under direct UN responsibility. On 12 June 1968, UNGA Resolution 2372 formally renames South West Africa Namibia; South Africa rejects both resolutions | |
| 1 November 1968 to 1 November 1971 | Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath, Administrator |
On 30 January 1970, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 276 declares South Africa in "illegal occupation" of Namibia | |
| 1 November 1971 to 1 September 1977 | Barend Johannes van der Walt, Administrator |
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| 1 September 1977 to 7 August 1979 | Marthinus T. Steyn, Administrator-General |
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| 7 August 1979 to 4 September 1980 | Gerrit Viljoen, Administrator-General |
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| 4 September 1980 to 1 February 1983 | Danie Hough, Administrator-General |
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| 1 February 1983 to 1 July 1985 | Willie van Niekerk, Administrator-General |
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| 1 July 1985 to 21 March 1990 | Louis Pienaar, Administrator-General |
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| 21 March 1990 | Independence as Republic of Namibia | ||
For continuation after independence, see: President of Namibia