Gerhard Tötemeyer
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Karl Hans Tötemeyer (born 21 May 1935) is a professor emeritus and retired Namibia
n politician.
He was born in Gibeon, and spent the first four years of his life in Keetmanshoop
, where his father worked as a missionary. When World War II broke out in September 1939, his family was on vacation in Germany, where they remained until 1950. At that time Tötemeyer spoke neither English nor Afrikaans
, the official languages of South-West Africa. He did not continue school owing to his language difficulties; the principal would have "placed him in so low a grade that [he] would have been frustrated".
He took up vocational training as a merchant at his uncle's general dealership and caught up with school after hours. When he finished his training in 1953, he enrolled in senior secondary school in Stellenbosch, and matriculated
in 1955. He then studied History at the University of Stellenbosch on a stipend awarded by the Administration of South-West Africa. He graduated with a B Hons in 1959 and acquired the Secondary School teacher's diploma in 1960.
Tötemeyer returned to South-West Africa and taught at Windhoek High School
in 1961 and 1962. Afterwards he took up a research post at Freiburg
, Germany
, and obtained a D Phil
from the University of Stellenbosch in 1974. Before entering politics he held several academic and administrative positions at the universities of Stellenbosch, the Transkei
, and Cape Town
. In 1987, shortly before Namibian Independence
, he moved to Windhoek
and became Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Science at the University of Namibia
.
After independence in 1990, Tötemeyer chaired the first Delimitation Commission of Namibia, a body that infrequently decides on the administrative division of the country. He was Director of Elections between 1992 and 1998, became a Member of Parliament in 2000 and was appointed Deputy Minister of Local and Regional Government and Housing. He retired in 2004 due to health concerns. Tötemeyer frequently publishes on politics and education in South Africa
and Namibia. Since 2005 Tötemeyer has been Chairman of National Housing Enterprise, a state-owned company providing housing for the poor.
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.
He was born in Gibeon, and spent the first four years of his life in Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is a city in Karas Region, southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and founder of the city....
, where his father worked as a missionary. When World War II broke out in September 1939, his family was on vacation in Germany, where they remained until 1950. At that time Tötemeyer spoke neither English nor Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, the official languages of South-West Africa. He did not continue school owing to his language difficulties; the principal would have "placed him in so low a grade that [he] would have been frustrated".
He took up vocational training as a merchant at his uncle's general dealership and caught up with school after hours. When he finished his training in 1953, he enrolled in senior secondary school in Stellenbosch, and matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
in 1955. He then studied History at the University of Stellenbosch on a stipend awarded by the Administration of South-West Africa. He graduated with a B Hons in 1959 and acquired the Secondary School teacher's diploma in 1960.
Tötemeyer returned to South-West Africa and taught at Windhoek High School
Windhoek High School
Windhoek High School is a school in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is one of the oldest schools in the country.- History :With its 90-year tradition of proven academic excellence, Windhoek High School is rated as one of the top 100 schools in Namibia and ranked number 93.- Facilities :The...
in 1961 and 1962. Afterwards he took up a research post at Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and obtained a D Phil
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Stellenbosch in 1974. Before entering politics he held several academic and administrative positions at the universities of Stellenbosch, the Transkei
University of Transkei
University of Transkei was situated in the former Transkei region of South Africa...
, and Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
. In 1987, shortly before Namibian Independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
, he moved to 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 became Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Science at the University of Namibia
University of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
.
After independence in 1990, Tötemeyer chaired the first Delimitation Commission of Namibia, a body that infrequently decides on the administrative division of the country. He was Director of Elections between 1992 and 1998, became a Member of Parliament in 2000 and was appointed Deputy Minister of Local and Regional Government and Housing. He retired in 2004 due to health concerns. Tötemeyer frequently publishes on politics and education in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Namibia. Since 2005 Tötemeyer has been Chairman of National Housing Enterprise, a state-owned company providing housing for the poor.