Photos by Frits Eisenloeffel
In December 1978 Frits Eisenloeffel travelled to Namibia to report on the elections. The elections were organized by the South African government and intended to favor the DTA (Democratic Turnhalle Alliance), an organization, supported by South Africa, of black and white Namibians who were presenting themselves as 'non-violent', 'non-racial' and 'democratic' alternative of SWAPO. The photos show a rally of DTA supporters in Katura, a ghetto/outskirt of Windhoek , an African 'tribal chief' and black politicians of the DTA being protected by white security people, a protest march by supporters of SWAPO against elections in Namibia and the DTA, scenes at the polling station and a press conference by delegates of the South African administration.
On the same trip Eisenloeffel photographed workers in Walvis Bay harbor and migrant workers in Katatura. Because of Christmas many contract workers were leaving for their homes in Ovamboland. In Katatura they were forced to live in pensions. The photos show workers drinking beer, doing their laundry, eating in the official canteen. The chicken wire is there to prevent uprising and control the black customers. The small hallways were present in the whole complex.
Read more in Eisenloeffel's article: Wat de Witman je vraagt stem je. (1978)
This is part of an photo exhibition from the Frits Eisenloeffel collection.
