Jan de Wet
Encyclopedia
Johannes Marthinus de Wet (20 November 1927 — 13 February 2011) was a Namibia
n politician and farmer.
from 1964-70. He then became the Commissioner General of Indigenous People (a.k.a. Commissioner of Bantu Affairs) from 1970-78. While working in South Africa, de Wet was amongst officials who met then rebel organization South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in Geneva
, Switzerland
.
Following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference
in 1978 and the possibility of Namibian independence, the farmer left South African politics and entered White Namibian politics with the Action Christian National
. De Wet was a member of the Transitional Government of National Unity
from 1985 until independence in 1989. He chaired that body from August 1987 until January 1988. Following the 1989 democratic election
, de Wet was selected to represent the ACN in the Constituent Assembly of Namibia (1989-90) and 1st National Assembly (1990-94).
, de Wet was a farmer in Leonardville
in Namibia's eastern Omaheke Region
. As head of the Namibian Agricultural Union from 1994-2004, de Wet worked with the Namibian government concerning the country's land reform processes, questioning criteria and methods of redistribution.
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 politician and farmer.
Politics
De Wet entered politics as a member of the South African ParliamentParliament of South Africa
The Parliament of South Africa is South Africa's legislature and under the country's current Constitution is composed of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces....
from 1964-70. He then became the Commissioner General of Indigenous People (a.k.a. Commissioner of Bantu Affairs) from 1970-78. While working in South Africa, de Wet was amongst officials who met then rebel organization South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
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 1978 and the possibility of Namibian independence, the farmer left South African politics and entered White Namibian politics with the Action Christian National
Action Christian National
Action Christian National is a White nationalist political party in Namibia. It used to be aligned with the National Party of South Africa. The party's chairman is Jan de Wet....
. De Wet was a member of the Transitional Government of National Unity
Transitional Government of National Unity (Namibia)
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the government of Namibia from June 1985 to February 1989. The TGNU was a puppet government of Apartheid South Africa that sought moderate reform but was unable to secure recognition by the United Nations...
from 1985 until independence in 1989. He chaired that body from August 1987 until January 1988. Following the 1989 democratic election
Namibian parliamentary election, 1989
Parliamentary elections were held in Namibia between 7 and 11 November 1989. These elections were for the Constituent Assembly of Namibia, which, upon independence in March 1990, became the National Assembly of Namibia.-Background:...
, de Wet was selected to represent the ACN in the Constituent Assembly of Namibia (1989-90) and 1st National Assembly (1990-94).
Farming
A White NamibianWhites in Namibia
White Namibians are people of European or Southern African birth or descent living in Namibia. Most white Namibians are Afrikaners, while some are descended from German, Portuguese, or English immigrants.- Distribution :...
, de Wet was a farmer in Leonardville
Leonardville, Namibia
Leonardville is a village in Omaheke Region in eastern Namibia. It belongs to the Aminuis electoral constituency. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of , although in the 2010/2011 rainy season were measured....
in Namibia's eastern Omaheke Region
Omaheke
Omaheke is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. Omaheke lies on the eastern border of Namibia and is the Western extension of the Kalahari desert. The name Omaheke is the Herero word for Sandveld. A large part of this region is known as the Sandveld...
. As head of the Namibian Agricultural Union from 1994-2004, de Wet worked with the Namibian government concerning the country's land reform processes, questioning criteria and methods of redistribution.