Referendum in South West Africa 1946

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The referendum in South West Africa 1946 was a referendum in South West Africa that was held in May and June 1946. It was supposed to clarify the future membership in the South African Union and was carried out in the form of surveys of the individual ethnic groups. The United Nations rejected the possibility of belonging to today's South Africa , because the people in South West Africa had not been sufficiently educated politically and therefore could not make such a decision rationally.

Question

"We, the undersigned, Chiefs, Headmen or Board Members of the people of the [________] tribe, who live in the [________] Reserve in this mandated Territory of South West Africa, acting with full authority of the people of the tribe of the [________] Reserve, wish to say that we have heard the people of the world are talking about the administration of these countries such as ours and that the administration of these countries may be changed. We and our people wish the following matters to be known to the people of the world:
(a) That our people have been happy and have prospered under the rule of the Government of the Union of South Africa and that we should like that Government to continue to rule us;
(b) That we do not wish any other Government or people to rule us;
(c) That we would like our country to become part of the Union of South Africa "

" We, the chiefs, headmen or councilors drawn here of the ethnic group of the [________] who live in the reservation [________] in this mandate area of ​​South West Africa, in full representation of the people of the people in the reservation [________], announce that the words the people of the world have heard about the administration of states like ours and that the administration of these countries can be changed. We and our people therefore want to communicate the following to the people of the world:
(a) That our people are happy and aspiring under the administration of the South African Union and therefore want to continue living under the leadership of the government;
(b) That we do not want any other form of government for our people;
(c) That our country should become part of the South African Union "

Result

selection be right %
Therefore 208,850 85.46
On the other hand 33,520 14.54
voter turnout 299.160 81.14
not involved 56,790 18.98

Responses to the concern

The referendum was affected by widespread criticism and even rejection. Such reactions came from the domestic base and from abroad. Tshekedi Khama (905–1959), traditional ruler of the Bamangwato and Herero chief Hosea Kutako , played an important role . With the support of six Tswana chiefs, Khama managed to publish a memorandum against the referendum, in which the transfer of the UN mandate via South West Africa was to be transferred either to the United Kingdom or directly to the United Nations. At the same time, Bechuanaland demanded free access to the Atlantic coast, at least to the port of Walvis Bay .

South African organizations also opposed the referendum, including the major trade unions African Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (ICU) and the Brick and Quarry Workers' Union in Cape Town . In November 1946 the then ANC President Alfred Bitini Xuma sent a protest note to the Secretary General of the United Nations. There were also protests by the Native Advisory Board of Langa , the Hindu Congress of Tongaat , the Chemical and Allied Workers' Union , the Explosive and Fertilizers Workers' Union of Cape Town and the Colored Garment Workers' Union in Transvaal . The Democratic African Party and the Passive Resistance Council were also involved .

The referendum received political support from the National Party . In addition, newspaper commentators from the papers Suidwes Afrikaner and Die Suidwester, who sympathize with her, spoke out in favor of it.

The UN General Assembly voted on December 14, 1946 against the incorporation of South West Africa into the South African Union with 37 votes in favor, 0 against and 9 abstentions.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Markku Suksi: Bringing in the People: A Comparison of Constitutional Forms and Practices , 1993, p. 253.
  2. ^ André du Pisani : SWA / Namibia: The Politics of Continuity and Change . Jonathan Ball Publishers , Johannesburg 1985, p. 111
  3. ^ Pisani: SWA / Namibia . 1985, pp. 112-113
  4. ^ Pisani: SWA / Namibia . 1985, p. 114
  5. ^ Pisani: SWA / Namibia . 1985, p. 115
  6. ^ Pisani: SWA / Namibia . 1985, p. 116