Interview: Generational Farmworker Evicted After 41 Years of Service

A 61-year-old generational farmworker, Gerson “Gearbox” Sani Danab, and his family were evicted from Farm Aandrus in the Khomas Region on Friday, February 14, after working on the farm for 41 years. The eviction was carried out by farmer Dani Botha, leaving Danab without a home, despite his long service to the Botha family.

Danab, who began working on the farm as a 20-year-old in 1982, initially worked under the late Funny Botha, Dani Botha’s father, for 17 years. He continued working for Dani Botha for another 23 years without receiving a pension payout. His parents were also employed by the Botha family, but after his father passed away in 1997, his mother was evicted. His father is buried at Farm Dornkloff, not far from where he worked.

Despite the eviction, Botha has retained Danab’s son, Aron Sani Danab, as a farmworker, raising concerns about the ongoing cycle of generational labor exploitation. According to land activist Shaun E. Gariseb, the farm remains largely unoccupied, with Danab being the only resident before his eviction.

Unfair Conditions and Pension Dispute

Throughout his employment, Danab was subjected to strict livestock ownership rules. He was only allowed to keep 30 goats, and if his herd exceeded 50, he was required to sell 20 each year. Similarly, he was permitted five cows, but if the number reached seven, Botha claimed ownership of two on the grounds that they were offspring of his bulls.

When approached for comment, Dani Botha dismissed references to government resolutions and the 2018 Second Land Conference, which addressed farmworker protections. He offered N$10,000 as a pension payout, which he described as a “favor”, despite Danab’s 41 years of service. Botha also demanded N$4,200 for transport costs to move Danab’s livestock.

Land Dispossession in the Khomas Region

The eviction highlights ongoing land ownership disparities in Khomas. Botha and his associates, including Wikus Esterhuizen, Riaan Burger, John Cuff, Johan Esterhuizen, and Ekard Hoff, collectively own multiple farms, while the lKhomani traditional authority owns no land in the region. These farms, activists argue, were historically occupied by the lKhomani people before their displacement.

Botha’s wife, Fransina Botha, reportedly attempted to involve law enforcement, but no officers arrived at the scene. Meanwhile, activist Verona Kharuxas stated that John Cuff and another individual, known as T.A., have warrants for their arrest, allegedly in connection with past evictions.

Call for Action and Government Intervention

Gariseb and Kharuxas have vowed to challenge the eviction, with plans to resettle displaced farmworkers at Baumgartsbrunn until a permanent solution is found. One proposed relocation site is a farm currently leased by Gaos to another farmer, Francois, for thousands per month.

In November 2024, activists petitioned Parliament, urging the Minister of Land Reform to halt farmworker evictions. However, they claim that farm owners, including Botha and Cuff, continue to act without consequence, even amid the nation’s mourning for the Founding President.

The matter is expected to be escalated to relevant authorities on Monday.

According to Kharuxas, 25 farms in Khomas are owned by foreign nationals, while 47 farms have been waived under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, led by Calle Schlettwein. Activists emphasize that the lKhomani traditional authority has no land ownership in the region.

“We are no longer afraid to fight for land justice,” Gariseb stated, adding that farmworker evictions must be addressed urgently to prevent further injustices.

The case has sparked renewed debate over land redistribution and the treatment of farmworkers in Namibia, as calls grow for government intervention.