For close to 35 years, Oosthuizen played a key role in the Namibian travel industry.

After 10 years gaining valuable experience in travel agencies, Alida co-founded Ritz Reise in 1984, and from these humble beginnings grew to become one of the pacesetters in Namibian travel.

Ritz Reise relocated to its new offices in the BRB Building in 2005.

This property, bought by Sure Ritz Travel and developed together with Claude Bosch Architects and Burmeister and Partners, is now a landmark on the city skyline.

Oosthuizen travelled extensively and obtained numerous and advanced recognition certificates in travel.

After matriculating at Windhoek High School in 1950, she represented South West Africa on the netball field in many games.

This led to many sport sponsorships by Ritz Reise in later years.

Out of her marriage to Martin Oosthuizen, two children were born - Fanus and Sandra.

With Fanus at the helm of Sure Ritz Travel, Alida retired to her daughter and son-in-law Jimmy Bassingthwaighte's smallholding near Okahandja.

From there she initiated a community needlework project and showed her remarkable business talent.

Testimony to this is a successful fashion show last year with Melanie Harteveld-Bekker and other Team Namibia exhibitors, inaugurated by First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba.

Melanie and Alida recently travelled to India to import raw silk for the manufacture of furnishings at the community project.

She is survived by her husband, two children and six grandchildren.

Two of her brothers, Johannes and Kobus Potgieter, also live in Namibia.

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