Clemens Kapuuo
Encyclopedia
Clemens Kapuuo was a Namibia
n school teacher, shopkeeper and chief of the Herero people of Namibia. Kapuuo was one of the leading opponents of South African rule of his country up until his assassination following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference
in March 1978.
in 1931. In 1937 he went to St Barnabas Anglican Church School in Windhoek. He qualified as a teacher at Viljoensdrif, in the Orange Free State
and at the Stofberg Memorial School.
In 1944-45 he taught at primary schools in Waterberg and Karibib, and in 1946 transferred to St Barnabas where he taught English. From 1950-1953 he was president of the SWA Teachers Association.
He was a member of the founding committee of the South West Africa National Union (SWANU) in 1958. He resigned as a teacher in 1960 when he was appointed deputy chief to Hosea Kutako
. The Herero chiefs council also appointed him as the automatic successor to Hosea Kutako, who was then old, as they feared that the South African authorities would try to take advantage of the death of Kutako to impose their own nominee as chief. Kapuuo was also a shopkeeper in the Old Location in Windhoek
, and led the opposition to the removal of black people from the Old Location to Katutura
in the 1960s.
In 1964 the Herero Chiefs Council withdrew from SWANU, which it had helped to found, and established the National Unity Democratic Organisation
(NUDO), so that the council as such would not have to be directly involved in politics. The founding leader was Mburumba Kerina, who had been a founding member of both SWANU and SWAPO, but after disagreements with the chiefs council Kerina was replaced by Kapuuo.
Following the decision of the International Court of Justice
at the Hague in 1971 that South African rule in Namibia was illegal, Kapuuo, as the leader of NUDO was instrumental in forming the National Convention
. The National Convention included SWAPO under David Meroro, SWANU under Gerson Veii and several other political groups, and demanded an immediate take-over of Namibia by the United Nations
in preparation for independence. In 1973, however, the United Nations declared SWAPO the sole authentic representative of the people of Namibia, and this soured relations between NUDO and SWAPO. Kapuuo objected that the Ovambo (who made up the majority of members of SWAPO) had not been dispossessed of their land under German and South African rule as the Hereros had, and were therefore relative newcomers to the liberation struggle.
In 1974 the National Convention broke up and Kapuuo participated in the Turnhalle negotiations, as a result of which NUDO joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance. Kapuuo was assassinated by
an unknown assailant in 1978.
in April 1978, with both SWAPO and the South African authorities blaming each other.
At his death he was described by the media as a "popular moderate and leader of the multiracial Democratic Turnhalle Alliance"
Kapuuo is buried alongside Hosea Kutako in the traditionally Herero town of Okahandja
. In 1999, Herero Paramount Chief
Kuaima Riruako
urged the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa to investigate Kapuuo's death as they had done with killed SWAPO activist Anton Lubowski
.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n school teacher, shopkeeper and chief of the Herero people of Namibia. Kapuuo was one of the leading opponents of South African rule of his country up until his assassination following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference
Turnhalle Constitutional Conference
The Turnhalle Constitutional Conference was a controversial conference held in Windhoek between 1975 and 1977, tasked with the development of a constitution for a self-governed Namibia under South African control...
in March 1978.
Biography
Clemens Kapuuo was born in 1923 at Ozondjona za Ndjamo, in the Okahandja District north of Windhoek and attended school at OkahandjaOkahandja
Okahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
in 1931. In 1937 he went to St Barnabas Anglican Church School in Windhoek. He qualified as a teacher at Viljoensdrif, in the Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
and at the Stofberg Memorial School.
In 1944-45 he taught at primary schools in Waterberg and Karibib, and in 1946 transferred to St Barnabas where he taught English. From 1950-1953 he was president of the SWA Teachers Association.
He was a member of the founding committee of the South West Africa National Union (SWANU) in 1958. He resigned as a teacher in 1960 when he was appointed deputy chief to Hosea Kutako
Hosea Kutako
Chief Hosea Kutako was an early Namibian nationalist leader and member of the South West African People's Organization. Kutako, alongside Rev. Michael Scott led petitions to the United Nations which eventually led to the recognition of Namibia's status as a sovereign country under colonial control...
. The Herero chiefs council also appointed him as the automatic successor to Hosea Kutako, who was then old, as they feared that the South African authorities would try to take advantage of the death of Kutako to impose their own nominee as chief. Kapuuo was also a shopkeeper in the Old Location in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, and led the opposition to the removal of black people from the Old Location to Katutura
Katutura
Katutura is a township of Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia. Katutura was created in 1961 following the forced removal of Windhoek's black population from the Old Location, which afterwards was developed into the suburb Hochland Park. Sam Nujoma Stadium, built in 2005, is located within Katutura...
in the 1960s.
In 1964 the Herero Chiefs Council withdrew from SWANU, which it had helped to found, and established the National Unity Democratic Organisation
National Unity Democratic Organisation
The National Unity Democratic Organisation is a political party in Namibia that is based among the Herero. NUDO was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance from the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference of the 1970s until it withdrew in September 2003, accusing the DTA of failing to work for...
(NUDO), so that the council as such would not have to be directly involved in politics. The founding leader was Mburumba Kerina, who had been a founding member of both SWANU and SWAPO, but after disagreements with the chiefs council Kerina was replaced by Kapuuo.
Following the decision of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
at the Hague in 1971 that South African rule in Namibia was illegal, Kapuuo, as the leader of NUDO was instrumental in forming the National Convention
National Convention (Namibia)
When the International Court of Justice ruled in 1971 that South African rule in Namibia was illegal, various pro-independence groups and parties, including the South West Africa National Union , the South West Africa Peoples Organization , and the National Unity Democratic Organisation formed the...
. The National Convention included SWAPO under David Meroro, SWANU under Gerson Veii and several other political groups, and demanded an immediate take-over of Namibia by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in preparation for independence. In 1973, however, the United Nations declared SWAPO the sole authentic representative of the people of Namibia, and this soured relations between NUDO and SWAPO. Kapuuo objected that the Ovambo (who made up the majority of members of SWAPO) had not been dispossessed of their land under German and South African rule as the Hereros had, and were therefore relative newcomers to the liberation struggle.
In 1974 the National Convention broke up and Kapuuo participated in the Turnhalle negotiations, as a result of which NUDO joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance. Kapuuo was assassinated by
an unknown assailant in 1978.
Death
Kapuuo was assassinated by two gunmen in the black township of KatuturaKatutura
Katutura is a township of Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia. Katutura was created in 1961 following the forced removal of Windhoek's black population from the Old Location, which afterwards was developed into the suburb Hochland Park. Sam Nujoma Stadium, built in 2005, is located within Katutura...
in April 1978, with both SWAPO and the South African authorities blaming each other.
At his death he was described by the media as a "popular moderate and leader of the multiracial Democratic Turnhalle Alliance"
Kapuuo is buried alongside Hosea Kutako in the traditionally Herero town of Okahandja
Okahandja
Okahandja is a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency. It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70km north of Windhoek on the B1 road...
. In 1999, Herero Paramount Chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
Kuaima Riruako
Kuaima Riruako
Kuaima Riruako is a politician in Namibia. Riruako is also the paramount chief of the Herero and a National Unity Democratic Organisation representative in Parliament, also called "Okahandja Herero" by some...
urged the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa to investigate Kapuuo's death as they had done with killed SWAPO activist Anton Lubowski
Anton Lubowski
Anton Theodor Eberhard August Lubowski was a Namibian advocate and SWAPO member assassinated by operatives of South Africa’s Civil Cooperation Bureau.-Education and early life:...
.