Salmaan Dhameer Jacobs
The home going of chief Stephanus Goliath, deputy chief of the /Hai-/Khaua traditional community of Berseba, was received with shock and sadness by many in Namibia and beyond. He left this world in the morning hours of Friday, 10 March 2023.
The first responses to the news came from many quarters, sending messages of condolences and sympathy, both on social media and other media platforms. But the statement of deputy bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) during brief sympathy church service in the evening of 10 March 2023 at residence in Windhoek, speaks volumes. He narrated how chief Goliath consolidated himself in his community and the nation, and imprinted deep-seated influence on the cultural and political landscape of Namibia.
Bishop Abraham //Kheibeb stated that the history of Namibia, particularly the south of Namibia, cannot be written without mentioning his name.
That statement sums up the truth, as he came to be dubbed, the trendsetter who was always the first to start so many worthy causes and stood by it until its completion. The man who served humanity and remained humble without claiming his true worth, a true humble servant who served his people and the nation with dignity and integrity.
We can vividly recount sacrifices he made, both in personal life and his community he led, far-fetching programmes he brought to the nation to change the socio-economic landscape, loving and exemplary husband, father to many, nationalist with deep roots in tradition, humble and approachable, visionary, unifier, hero who never wavered in his stance and principles. His life cannot be summed up in one word.
He was the first from southerners to obtain a university degree in the early 70s. Was the first from that area to become principal of a high school, and was the first chairperson of the teachers’ union in the 70s. He was amongst the first to withstand apartheid subjugations around 1975, when he led the southern teachers together with the likes of late reverend Hendrik Witbooi to strike for better wages and living conditions for teachers. Was amongst the first to join Swapo in the south around 1974, when Berseba traditional authority openly joined the liberation movement under the able leadership of his forerunner, chief Dawid Christian Goliath of the /Hai-/Khaua traditional community.
He left deep footprints in Namibia and the south, because he charted the course and direction for unity of the nation and of his community. Before independence and immediately after independence, he and others criss-crossed this country for mobilisation drive for Swapo. This they undertook for our people to understand and be convinced of the right course of political action and participation.
He was amongst the first to withstand apartheid army forces not to intimidate students at the school where he was the principal. He was among the first to defiantly open a Cambridge private school in Berseba, a school that produce many who are today sitting in responsible positions in the government of the day.
There were only four places throughout Namibia who opened such schools. First was in Gibeon in the year 1978, under the dynamic leadership of reverend Witbooi then in Hoachanas, under the sterling leadership of Gaob PSM Kooper, and in Khoichas under the able leadership of reverend Willem Konjore. Chief Goliath opened his private school in Berseba in 1987 as a direct response to provide alternative education as opposed to Bantu education and to accommodate striking students from JA Nel Secondary School in Keetmanshoop. For opening this school, he went through harassment, deprivation, secret and intelligence forces following him around, clandestinely, in the night and openly as well. Against all odds, he opened this school with teachers, who could hardly even speak English.
Chief Stephanus Goliath was arrested and imprisoned for six months at Gobabis and Windhoek prisons, under notorious Proclamation AG 26, under which most internal wing Swapo leaders were imprisoned.
Our chief made personal sacrifices and went through trauma at the hands of his own people. The stooges and handlers of opposition forces connived with locals to illegally enter his private home around the year 1999, while he and his beloved wife were resting after lunch, and stabbed him with a knife multiple times. Unarmed, he and his wife had to fiercely defend themselves for the person not to administer further fatal stab wounds.
It was traumatic and shocking to the entire traditional community. Mention should be made of chief Johannes Fleermuys, his ally at the time, who transported Chief Goliath to Tses for first aid treatment and continued to Keetmanshoop for him to receive emergency and intensive care treatment for the multiple wounds inflicted on his body. That matter was pursued but died a natural death, but throughout all this, he maintained his composure and integrity, for the greater good of the nation, and for the Berseba people to remain united.
The course which departed chief Goliath trotted was clear, as he only wanted unity, progress and development for the greater Namibia.
As a first governor of the //Kharas region after independence, the current demarcations of regions were done. He was emphatic that unity should at all times be maintained and traditional communities should preserve their land rights and fully participate in leasehold allocations of their land.
Many will claim how they played instrumental roles for the establishment of the Neckartal Dam, but I recall the crucial meeting which late minister Abraham Iyambo held with traditional authorities of the southern regions in 2007, as leader assigned to that region. It was in that meeting that the late chief laid out clear plan and vision why Neckartal Dam is urgently needed. Iyambo took that plan and vision to the Cabinet and motivated for endorsement.
Ostrich communal farming was booming in the south, because of his wisdom and visionary leadership. This programme empowered 53 families, and communal ostrich farmers were farming with more than 2 000 ostriches. These farmers were shareholders in the Ostrich Production Namibia (OPN), a slaughter abattoir facility still standing in outskirts of Keetmanshoop, today a sheep slaughtering facility.
Being the traditional leader, and deeply conscious of sacrifices made by his ancestors around land, he opposed calls for ancestral land rights not to be discussed at the second land conference in the year 2018. In his rare emotional outburst, he articulated the need for the conference to deliberate ancestral land rights as it is relevant, timely and some factions in our community were severely affected by land appropriation. He therefore persuaded our leadership to include this vital matter to be included in the agenda of the conference.
The Berseba traditional community, for which he was the chief of one of the factions, were divided for more than 75 years, since the banishment of the last captain Diederick Goliath to Hoachanas in 1938 by the South African apartheid administration. After independence, chief Goliath brought back to Berseba the remains of captain Diederick Goliath for reburial, who died in 1947 in Hoachanas. That in itself was a way to bring closure to a chapter that was painful to the /Hai-/Khaua traditional community.
When he said he made sacrifices, we mean it. It was easy for him to have made claims to be the chief of the /Hai-/Khaua traditional community because of the good standing he had in the community and the nation at large. But he did not, he opted to surrender his role of being the chief for one of the factions, and accepted to remain a deputy chief of the entire /Hai-/Khaua clan of Berseba and the surrounding areas. A selfless leader who only wanted unity and peace for his people. The community is now united, and he is leaving the community after having been integral part of orchestrating that unity.
He did what he came to do in this world. He obtained relevant education when it was difficult. He used that knowledge to teach children and students. He deployed his expertise in the course of the struggle for the independence of Namibia. He served the government and the people of Namibia before and after independence.
His reign as governor was without conflicts as he united both the political, religious and traditional leadership. He made sacrifices, in his personal life and even gave up formal teaching with the government of that time, and opted to establish an alternative education system for the Namibian people. He has knife stab wounds to his body. He sacrificed a royal position to achieve greater unity for community that was divided for more than 70 years.
The trails of his footsteps were deeply imprinted on the Namibian soil. History will always remember him for the role he played. He was humble yet royal. Approachable, both by the ordinary citizens, yet dined with the dignitaries and world leaders, and articulated on those platforms any national matter. Always exemplary, neat and clean. He wore traditional attire to show his roots, but remained nationalistic in his outlook and disposition. May we emulate his rare qualities of humbleness, his visionary and exemplary leadership, his sense of sacrifices for greater good of others.
Namibia’s loss is heaven’s gain.
/Hai-/Khaua lost the unifier and leader of high calibre. The traditional throne will not be the same without him. His family lost a dear husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather. Our king is no more.
May his beautiful soul rest in eternal peace.