Jan de Wet

Johannes Marthinus (Jan) de Wet (born 20 November, 1927 in Rouxville, South Africa) is a Namibian politician and farmer.

Politics

De Wet entered politics as a member of the South African Parliament from 1964-70. He then became the Commissioner General of Indigenous People (a.k.a. Commissioner of Bantu Affairs) from 1970-78. While working in South Africa, de Wet was amongst officials who met then rebel organization South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference in 1978 and the possibility of Namibian independence, the farmer left South African politics and entered White Namibian politics with the Action Christian National. De Wet was a member of the Transitional Government of National Unity from 1985 until independence in 1989. Following the 1989 democratic election, de Wet was selected to represent the ACN in the Constituent Assembly of Namibia (1989-90) and 1st National Assembly (1990-94).

Farming

A White Namibian, de Wet is a farmer in Leonardville in Namibia's eastern Omaheke Region. [ [http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=2359 Profile] at Who's who in Southern Africa] As head of the Namibian Agricultural Union from 1994-2004, de Wet worked with the Namibian government concerning the country's land reform processes, questioning criteria and methods of redistribution. [ [http://www.mg.co.za/article/2004-05-28-namibias-white-farmers-hold-out-hope Namibia's white farmers hold out hope] Mail & Guardian, 28 May, 2004]

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