John Pandeni
Encyclopedia
John Alphons Pandeni was a Namibia
n politician and trade unionist. A member of SWAPO, Pandeni was Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development at the time of his death.
Pandeni was born in the village of Omundjala in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia
. After receiving military training in Tanzania
and Angola
, Pandeni was arrested in 1978 for anti-apartheid military activities with SWAPO's military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
. Following his arrest, Pandeni was imprisoned on Robben Island
until 1985. After his release, Pandeni became the founding Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union
(Nafau) until 1992. In that year he entered politics, serving as Regional Councillor for Soweto constituency in Katutura
, Windhoek
. A year later he became the Khomas Regional Governor until 2005 when he entered President Hifikepunye Pohamba
's first cabinet. He was a distant relative of fellow Robben Island prisoner turned SWAPO politician Petrus Iilonga
Pandeni is buried alongside other former liberation leaders at Heroes' Acre, outside of Windhoek
.
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 and trade unionist. A member of SWAPO, Pandeni was Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development at the time of his death.
Pandeni was born in the village of Omundjala in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia
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...
. After receiving military training in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Pandeni was arrested in 1978 for anti-apartheid military activities with SWAPO's military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at...
. Following his arrest, Pandeni was imprisoned on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
until 1985. After his release, Pandeni became the founding Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union
Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union
The Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union is a trade union in Namibia affiliated with the National Union of Namibian Workers . Nafau's organizational strongholds include the fishing industries around Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.-History:...
(Nafau) until 1992. In that year he entered politics, serving as Regional Councillor for Soweto constituency in Katutura
Katutura
Katutura is a township of Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia. Katutura was created in 1961 following the forced removal of Windhoek's black population from the Old Location, which afterwards was developed into the suburb Hochland Park. Sam Nujoma Stadium, built in 2005, is located within Katutura...
, 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...
. A year later he became the Khomas Regional Governor until 2005 when he entered President Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
's first cabinet. He was a distant relative of fellow Robben Island prisoner turned SWAPO politician Petrus Iilonga
Petrus Iilonga
Petrus Iilonga is a Namibian politician, as well as a former trade union leader and former political prisoner. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization , Iilonga has been the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare since his appointment in 2000.Iilonga was born in...
Pandeni is buried alongside other former liberation leaders at Heroes' Acre, outside of 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...
.