XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
South West Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The 1946 incorporation referendum was a South African-backed consultation intended to support the incorporation of South West Africa as a fifth province of South Africa. It was conducted through meetings of chiefs and headmen in African reserves rather than individual voting, producing a reported 208,850 votes for incorporation and 33,250 against. African leaders, especially Hosea Kutako, rejected both the procedure and its conclusion.
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Le récit
In the aftermath of the Second World War, South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts sought international approval for the incorporation of South West Africa into South Africa as a fifth province. To support this position, a consultation among Africans in the territory was held between December 1945 and April 1946. Its results were presented as evidence that incorporation enjoyed African support.
The consultation did not involve individual voting. Meetings were called by chiefs and headmen and held only in the reserves, where participants were asked whether they wanted “any other nation to rule them,” rather than whether they specifically supported incorporation into South Africa. The reported result was 208,850 votes for incorporation and 33,250 against, but the procedure left the meaning and representativeness of the outcome deeply contested.
The referendum was forcefully opposed by African leaders, most prominently the Herero paramount Hosea Kutako and the Herero Chief’s Council. Kutako had become increasingly concerned by land loss and impoverishment and worked with allies including Frederick Maharero, Tshekedi Khama, and other leaders in Botswana. The United Nations rejected South Africa’s incorporation request in December 1946, helping redirect Namibian opposition toward international diplomacy.
XXᵉ siècle – XXᵉ siècle
South West Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
The 1946 incorporation referendum was a South African-backed consultation intended to support the incorporation of South West Africa as a fifth province of South Africa. It was conducted through meetings of chiefs and headmen in African reserves rather than individual voting, producing a reported 208,850 votes for incorporation and 33,250 against. African leaders, especially Hosea Kutako, rejected both the procedure and its conclusion.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
In the aftermath of the Second World War, South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts sought international approval for the incorporation of South West Africa into South Africa as a fifth province. To support this position, a consultation among Africans in the territory was held between December 1945 and April 1946. Its results were presented as evidence that incorporation enjoyed African support.
The consultation did not involve individual voting. Meetings were called by chiefs and headmen and held only in the reserves, where participants were asked whether they wanted “any other nation to rule them,” rather than whether they specifically supported incorporation into South Africa. The reported result was 208,850 votes for incorporation and 33,250 against, but the procedure left the meaning and representativeness of the outcome deeply contested.
The referendum was forcefully opposed by African leaders, most prominently the Herero paramount Hosea Kutako and the Herero Chief’s Council. Kutako had become increasingly concerned by land loss and impoverishment and worked with allies including Frederick Maharero, Tshekedi Khama, and other leaders in Botswana. The United Nations rejected South Africa’s incorporation request in December 1946, helping redirect Namibian opposition toward international diplomacy.
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