But his plans came to an abrupt halt last week when he learned that Farm Kalkpan, about 30 kilometres west of Gobabis, was no longer his mother's home.

The future of Beukes and a community of 30 people hangs in the balance after Ron Pieterse, who runs the farm they have lived on for more than five decades, evicted them on Thursday.

The owner is Dirk van Wyk (95), who brought Beukes to the farm as a domestic worker some 57 years ago.

"He (Van Wyk) has encouraged us to stay on the farm and allowed our cattle to graze with his own. We have never quarrelled and he has still been good to us before he was admitted to the old age home," said Beukes.

But trouble started when Van Wyk became chronically ill and his son-in-law Pieterse decided to evict the labourers when he took over the management of the farm.

Beukes said she did not expect this sort of treatment from Pieterse because she had "raised his wife from the moment when she was born".

"I raised all the children of Oubaas (Van Wyk) including his (Pieterse's) wife and now they are treating me this way now that I am old," she added.
Beukes claimed Pieterse and his wife had made it impossible for the farm labourers to see Van Wyk.

"They are saying he is not in a condition to speak to us because he is very ill.

I am sure if Oubaas (Van Wyk) was around we will not be harassed this way. We just want to see him because he remains dear to our heart," she said.

The Namibian was not allowed to speak to Van Wyk at the Gobabis old-age home.

The eviction order cites Van Wyk as the applicant.

"How can a man who is apparently declared invalid apply for the eviction order," asked Thomas Shatimwene, who has worked on the farm since 1972.

Pieterse was unwilling to comment, saying that discussing the matter could jeopardise "a settlement being negotiated by the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) and Government".

Pieterse's lawyer Bennie Venter also declined to comment.

Omaheke Region Governor Laura McLeod said: "Until when are our own people going to live like refugees in their own country? Even refugees in Namibia know they can go to Osire but our own people, born and bred in Namibia, have to live like refugees."

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