20th century – 20th century
South West Africa
South African reserve policy in the early 1920s reorganised African landholding and administration across South West Africa. Existing German reserves were confirmed, new reserves were established or expanded, and communities were frequently moved onto poorly watered and insufficiently spacious land. The policy generated resistance, especially among Bondelswarts, Herero, Mbแnderu, Rehoboth residents, and other communities. Its implementation strengthened segregation while often exceeding the state’s administrative capacity.
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The Story
In 1921 the Native Reserves Commission recommended confirmation of the existing German reserves. During the following years, the administration established or recognised reserves at places including Otjohorongo, Aukiegas, Neuhof, Tses, Otjimbingwe, Waterberg East, Otji tuo, Aminuis, and Epukiro. Other reserves were later added, among them Gibeon, Warmbad, Eastern, and Ovitoto. The network was intended to organise African residence and land access under South African rule.
The policy was presented partly as a response to African expectations that land would be returned, but its practical consequences were often adverse. Reserves were commonly created on poorly watered land and were too small to support their populations. In 1925, black stockowners were removed from a government farm at Neubrunn to Otjimbingwe, where the land was considered more fertile, but other relocations placed communities at a serious disadvantage.
Resistance followed the implementation of the reserve system. Bondelswarts opposition culminated in the 1922 uprising, while Witboois resisted removal to the Tses reserve in 1923. Herero and Mbanderu leaders Hosea Kutako and Nikanor Hoveka initially considered moving to Aminuis and Epukiro, but rejected proposed land near Epukiro after finding it far beyond the expected site and describing it as desert. In 1925, bombing around Otjiherero-speaking communities near Oruambo forced another move.
20th century – 20th century
South West Africa
South African reserve policy in the early 1920s reorganised African landholding and administration across South West Africa. Existing German reserves were confirmed, new reserves were established or expanded, and communities were frequently moved onto poorly watered and insufficiently spacious land. The policy generated resistance, especially among Bondelswarts, Herero, Mbแnderu, Rehoboth residents, and other communities. Its implementation strengthened segregation while often exceeding the state’s administrative capacity.
Continue exploring
The Story
In 1921 the Native Reserves Commission recommended confirmation of the existing German reserves. During the following years, the administration established or recognised reserves at places including Otjohorongo, Aukiegas, Neuhof, Tses, Otjimbingwe, Waterberg East, Otji tuo, Aminuis, and Epukiro. Other reserves were later added, among them Gibeon, Warmbad, Eastern, and Ovitoto. The network was intended to organise African residence and land access under South African rule.
The policy was presented partly as a response to African expectations that land would be returned, but its practical consequences were often adverse. Reserves were commonly created on poorly watered land and were too small to support their populations. In 1925, black stockowners were removed from a government farm at Neubrunn to Otjimbingwe, where the land was considered more fertile, but other relocations placed communities at a serious disadvantage.
Resistance followed the implementation of the reserve system. Bondelswarts opposition culminated in the 1922 uprising, while Witboois resisted removal to the Tses reserve in 1923. Herero and Mbanderu leaders Hosea Kutako and Nikanor Hoveka initially considered moving to Aminuis and Epukiro, but rejected proposed land near Epukiro after finding it far beyond the expected site and describing it as desert. In 1925, bombing around Otjiherero-speaking communities near Oruambo forced another move.
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