Tshekedi Khama, Smuts, and South West Africa

Ever since the establishment of the Union of South Africa in 1910, Jan Smuts, one of its principal architects, had visions of transforming it into a ‘Greater South Africa’. As it was, he gained only South West Africa and then under a League of Nations Mandate that allowed South Africa to integrate it administratively in all but name. In 1945, Smuts served notice on the newly formed United Nations Organization that his country would request that the Mandate over South West Africa be terminated, and that the Territory be incorporated as an integral part of the Union. That the Assembly rejected his request with not a vote in favour in December 1946 owes much to the year-long campaign against the incorporation of South West Africa led by Tshekedi Khama, Regent of the Bangwato in the Bechuanaland Protectorate. This article considers the course of Tshekedi’s skilful campaign. Notes, ref.