During part of the South African apartheid administration in South West Africa, when Hereroland was a bantustan (a designated area for Herero people settlement), a political representative was appointed by the South African Administration. At first, this position was given to the respective Paramount Chief of the Herero people until in 1980, political representation was decoupled from chieftaincy. The position of the representative of Hereroland was abolished in May 1989 as part of the transition to Namibian independence which was declared in March 1990.[1]