banares

Duringn my OAT trip to Namibia, we visited an oma (grandmother) who used to live in South Africa, but was forcibly dumped in Namibia during the apartheid era when Namibia was controlled by S.Africa. Our guide referred to her as "riem vas maker". I'm trying to get more information, but can't find anything in the web. Do I have the wrong spelling ?Does anybody have any info or know where I can find more info ? Thanks so much.

sandi

Can't be specific and we all know the apartheid era was a horror and dehumanizing. As to the reference "riem vas maker" from the guide, from the little German/Dutch I've heard, might mean "trouble maker." Just a guess!

Andrew1963

I find it difficult to comment on this subject as not enough is known. A "riem vas maker" direct translation would be "rim tightener", could be something that fits on the rim of the tyre keeping a tyre in. I cant see how that may mean anything. As you have been to Namibia you will have seen Sesriem (six rims)It could also have reference to the steel rims on the wagons that keep the wooden wheels together.

Are you sure that you have all the facts? Strange things happen during war. Are you sure it was during the apartheid era and not after? The war in Namibia ended 20 years ago.

Andrew1963

I have been doing some goggling for you. If you want to understand more about the Bush war (no; not George Bush) search words like. "forgotten war" "SWAPO" "PLAN" "SWATF" "FAPLA" "UNITA" "MPLA" FRELIMO" "RENAMO" You will see that the situation was a little more complicated than you think. Even though I fought in that war, it was difficult to understand. War displaced many people throughout the world, and Africa is no different.
One link I found that put it simply is this one. http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...d.php?t=159126

banares

Andrew1963, I will do some more research; thanks for the info you gave. The information I have came from the guide and 2 grandmothers who spoke through an interpreter. I had the guide spell the name for me; but of course he could be wrong. The guide spoke English well, so Im sure I did not misunderstand. It does not appear like it's related to any war.

During apartheid when Namibia was under South African control, many elderlyblacks from a certain area was forcibly removed from their home in South Africa because that the land was going to be used for something else. Based on the age of the 2 omas at that time, the South African government concluded that they must be from Namibia. One oma said they were put on a train and then taken by bus and both of them said they were dumped in this remote place to fend for themselves, being provided with nothing. I even asked if they hate the whites for doing that to them, and the answer was "not all whites, just the once who did that to them".

Andrew1963

I got a little sidetracked by this topic and stumbled on some shocking information of what man has done to his fellow man anywhere on the globe.

It is almost as if nothing has changed as wars still rage over the world and terrorism continues, and people are being persecuted - take a look at Tibet for example.

here is something just for interest.
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat1.htm

JennySA

I found some info for you http://www.greenkalahari.co.za/rie_background.htm

It constitutes the biggest landclaim processed. 74 000 hectares. and R200 million farming subsidies for 174 families.

banares

JennySA, thanks so much.