Hans Diergaardt

Kaptein Johannes Gerard Adolph Diergaardt, more commonly known as Hans Diergaardt (16 September 1927–13 February 1998) was a Namibian politician and the fifth Captain of Baster community at Rehoboth, succeeding Dr Ben Africa in 1979. He founded a host of local political parties in his life, among them the Federal Convention of Namibia for which he took a seat in the Constituent Assembly of Namibia. Diergaardt is known for his outspoken criticism of black majority rule in the early years of independent Namibia, and for leading a legal attempt to secede the area around Rehoboth (Rehoboth Gebied) from it.

Early life and political activities

Diergaardt was born in Rehoboth, South-West Africa on 16 September 1927.[1] He became a professional car mechanic but worked as farmer, businessman, and politician throughout his life. His political career started in 1947 when he became a member of the Rehoboth Burgervereniging (English: Rehoboth Citizen Association). He later founded the Rehoboth Tax Payers Association (1959), the Rehoboth Volksparty (English: Rehoboth Peoples' Party, 1968), and the Rehoboth Liberation Party (1975).[2]

He became a member of the Rehoboth Advisory Council in 1959 and Chairman of the National Convention in 1969. He participated in talks at the Turnhalle Conference (1975–1977) as opposition to Kaptein Ben Africa who officially led the conference's Baster delegation.[2]

Ascension to Chieftaincy

In 1976 the area around Rehoboth was granted some autonomy by the South African administration under the Self-Government Act, No. 56 of 1976. As part of its implementation an election was held for the Kaptein (Captain) for Rehoboth. Ben Africa won narrowly, Diergaardt came second. Diergaardt went to court over the election results and won the case in 1979, becoming the fifth Baster Captain in history.[2]

Leader of the Baster homeland or bantustan from 1979 until independence in 1989, Diergaardt and the RFP took part in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU), which was directly linked to the South African apartheid states and held some governmental powers from June 1985 to February 1989. Diergaardt was the second chairman of the TGNU.[3]

Prior to Namibian independence Diergaardt was elected into the Constituent Assembly of Namibia, which wrote the country's constitution. Upon independence, Diergaardt threatened armed secession from the newly independent Namibia because of a perceived lack of group rights under the Namibian Constitution.[4]

Diergaardt died from a heart attack[5] in Rehoboth on 13 February 1998.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Chronology for Basters in Namibia UNCHR, 2004
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, D". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  3. ↑ World Statesmen Namibia
  4. ↑ Rehoboth Journal; Fearful Namibian Tribe Raises Flag of Freedom, The New York Times, April 4, 1990
  5. ↑ Nunuhe, Margreth (18 February 2013). "‘Rehoboth community in danger of extinction’". New Era.