THE late chief of the Afrikaner Nama clan, Hendrina Martha Afrikaner, one of the few women to ever lead a Namibian tribe, combined capacity with a humble personality that made her accessible.
This was how Karas governor Bernadus Swartbooi described the late Chief Afrikaner at a memorial service that drew hundreds of mourners.It was held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) Immanuel congregation at Keetmanshoop on Tuesday night. Swartbooi expressed sincere condolences on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba to the Afrikaner clan, particularly the next of kin.’We have learnt with great shock of the fatal passing of Chief Afrikaner. Your sorrow and pain is our sorrow and pain. We’re convinced that while we feel the sorrow and pain of her loss, there can still be moments of joy we can draw from the life of an iconic leader,’ said Swartbooi. Chief Afrikaner led the clan from 2004 until her recent death at the age of 59, when the Government vehicle she was driving overturned after she had lost control.The late chief was alone in the vehicle when the accident happened on the B1 highway between Keetmanshoop and Tses two weeks ago. Swartbooi remembered Afrikaner as ‘a soft-spoken woman, never appearing tired, and always with a smile on her face, she was always busy producing results at all times to betterment of the people’.’Exhausted at times, but never tired of service, although some of the people of this part (southern part of country) are caught up in hopelessness and anxiety and confusion, she gave a sense of direction,’ the Karas governor added. Swartbooi said late Chief Afrikaner restored ‘hope, faith and revival’ among the Nama people, and redefined the role of women by occupying a leadership position. ‘She was in fact an untraditional, traditional leader,’ he added.In his message of condolences, the new chief of the /Hai-/Khaua tribe of Berseba, Johannes Isaack, described Afrikaner as ‘iron woman with integrity’ and called on other women to emulate her by representing their tribes on traditional authority level. Afrikaner is survived by her mother, four children, one brother and two sisters. She will buried at Okahandja on Saturday next to the grave of her ancestor, Jan Jonker Afrikaner. luqman@namibian.com.na
