This article lists the colonial governors of Walvis Bay, a city in the modern day Republic of Namibia (currently the third largest city in the country). The list encompass the period from 1878 to 1994, when Walvis Bay and the surrounding territory (including the Penguin Islands) was controlled by the United Kingdom and later by South Africa.

The list also encompasses the period of joint Namibian-South African control of Walvis Bay, from 1993 to 1994.

The title of the position changed a number of times. Under British rule, the title of the position went from Captain (1878) to Resident Magistrate (1878–1883) to Magistrate (1883–1910). Under South African rule, the title was Magistrate (1910–1925), Magistrate and Chairman of Village Management Board (1925–1931) and Mayor (1931–1994). Under joint Namibian-South African rule, the title was Chief Executive Officer of Joint Administrative Authority (1993–1994).

List

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

TenurePortrait Incumbent NotesBritish SuzeraintyWalvis Bay annexed by the United Kingdom (annexation confirmed on 14 December 1878)12 March 1878 to 1878 Richard C. Dyer, Captain1 June 1878 to 1880 D. Erskine, Resident Magistrate1879 to January 1880 W. E. Manning, acting Resident Magistrateacting for Erskine1880 to November 1880 William Coates Palgrave, Resident MagistrateNovember 1880 to 1882 Benjamin d'Urban Musgrave, Resident MagistrateAugust 1882 to 13 June 1883 E. J. Whindus, Resident Magistrate13 June 1883 to 7 August 1884 J. S. Simpson, MagistrateIncorporated into Cape Colony7 August 1884 to 1885? J. S. Simpson, Magistrate1885 to 1889 Emile S. Rolland, Magistrate1889 to 1901 John James Cleverly, Magistrate1st time, acting to July 18901902 to 1903 Frank H. Guthrie, Magistrate1903 to August 1905 John James Cleverly, Magistrate2nd timeAugust 1905 to 1909? David Eadie, Magistrate1909 to 31 May 1910 J. M. Richards, MagistrateSouth African SuzeraintyPart of Cape Province within Union of South Africa31 May 1910 to 1915? J. M. Richards, Magistrate1915 to 1920 Frederic Wodehouse Bult, Military Magistrate for Swakopmund1920 to 1 October 1922 K. R. Thomas, Magistrate for Swakopmund and WalvisAdministration assigned to South West Africa1 October 1922 to 18 March 1925 K. R. Thomas, Magistrate for Swakopmund and Walvis18 March 1925 to 16 March 1931 K. R. Thomas, Magistrate and Chairman of Village Management BoardMunicipal status16 March 1931 to 1932 S. Blyth, Mayor1932 to 1934 W. G. Neate, Mayor1934 to 1940 Thomas Perris Hall, Mayor1940 E. O. Bull, Mayor12 December 1940 to 15 April 1948Municipal status suspended29 April 1948 to 12 September 1949 J. Christie, Mayor23 September 1949 to 12 September 1950 F. Davel, Mayor13 September 1950 to 6 September 1951 Joseph C. Harries, Mayor1st time7 September 1951 to 8 February 1952 A. C. Stafford, Mayor9 February 1952 to 16 September 1953 W. J. Hamilton, Mayor17 September 1953 to 31 August 1954 Joseph C. Harries, Mayor2nd time31 August 1954 to 21 March 1955 H. St. John Reid, Mayor22 March 1955 to 31 May 1955 W. A. Bester, Mayor14 September 1955 to 27 August 1958 William Austin Willis, Mayor1st time27 August 1958 to 1960? Peter van Aarde, Mayor1960? to 1963? William Austin Willis, Mayor2nd time4 July 1963 to 11 March 1970 M. C. Botma, Mayor16 March 1970 to 14 March 1974 Heleon "Leon" Hendrikus Laubscher, Mayor1st time14 March 1974 to 12 March 1975 Nelis Naudé Dreyer, Mayor14 March 1975 to 10 March 1977 Heleon "Leon" Hendrikus Laubscher, Mayor2nd time11 March 1977 to 1 September 1977 Nico Retief, Mayor1st timeRe-integrated into Cape Province (within South Africa)1 September 1977 to 16 March 1978 Nico Retief, Mayor1st time; on 4 November 1977, South African claim to Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands declared "null and void" and are named "integral parts of Namibia" by the United Nations (formally 28 July 1978, by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 432)17 March 1978 to 28 March 1980 A. Prinsloo, Mayor28 March 1980 to 27 March 198? Hester E. M. Deissler, Mayor1st time28 March 198? to 17 March 1983 Nico Retief, Mayor2nd time18 March 1983 to 1 November 1988 Christoffel L. de Jager, Mayor2 November 1988 to 6 December 1989 Hester E. M. Deissler, Mayor2nd time7 December 1989 to 4 October 1991 Nico Retief, Mayor3rd time25 October 1991 to 29 October 1992 Ronald Noel "Buddy" Bramwell, Mayor30 October 1992 to 8 November 1993 Jacobus N. "Koot" Blaauw, Mayor9 November 1993 to 22 August 1994 Bryce Gerard Edwards, MayorJoint Administrative Authority 15 January 1993 to 28 February 1994Under joint Namibian-South African administration15 January 1993 to 28 February 1994Nangolo Mbumba, Chief Executive OfficerRepresenting Namibia Carl von Hirschberg, Chief Executive OfficerRepresenting South Africa1 March 1994Walvis Bay exclave ceded to Republic of Namibia by South Africa

See also Walvis Bay Penguin Islands South West Africa List of colonial governors of South West Africa History of Namibia Politics of Namibia

External links World Statesmen – Namibia (Walvis Bay)