An Interesting Email!

[Michael Alexander]

I just checked this in now, found it most interesting, anyone want to reply? I will give my comments when I find time....


"Dear Sir
In an English national newspaper I have recently perused an interesting article relating to Namibia/Oranjemund/Sperrerbiet & what was described as the Forbidden Zone.   The details contained therein were, to be frank, very disturbing. Throughout the complete article the author goes to great length in order to provide an accurate portrait of the scenes around him insofar as the geology, geography, climate & wildlife are concerned. I must say that from the images created by the author in my mind, it is an area I now deeply regret missing when I visited nearby South Africa. However, those descriptions provided by the author were not wholly restricted to the natural beauty of the area & the wonderful diversity of the animal life that live there, for within the words were a series of documented facts that cast a chilling fear over the reader.
Due to the fact that I am not usually a person who would automatically take the word of a single person-cum-journalist without question, I decided to invest some time whereupon great effort was given to glaring at a damn computer screen - I dislike having to use the internet, especially when attempting to gather information - in order to read some further details about the said area. Google quickly provided several links to the information I was seeking. Hence I found my way to the aforementioned website & your email address.
And there began a series of very stark contrasts between the words of one person and the details given on a website: On one hand was ajournalist/writer portraying what can be described as Hell on Earth whilst on the the other a jolly-faced website was distributing facts and figures that could be likened to a holiday brochure for a stay in Cologne or one of Berlin's better residencial areas. What then, is one supposed to believe?
In the newspaper there were of course the statutory reflections toward past events; of horrendous events whereupon thousands of the indigenous peoples were slaughtered by German colonialists. Heinrick von Wolf being among the more unpleasant characters to have the misfortune to come upon. There was a reference to Heinrich Goering - father to one of Hitler's most loyal servants - and the part he had in the numerous attrocities carried out by German colonialists in Namibia.
Nevertheless, such events are now in the past though the place they hold in history is vital and should never be forgotten lest we once again become the savages we were so readily and easily only a few short years ago. The twenty first century may now be with us and the passionate drumbeat of equality and freedom; regardless of its hypocricy still rings loud across the globe. And hypocricy it all is; providing one can believe all they read that is. According to the newspaper article people within Orenjemund cannot simply come and go as they might be pleased to do so. I quote: "The Sperrgebiet may be slowly opening to the public, but Oranjemund stays prohibited." Further descriptions of how the inhabitants are forced to wear cards detailing the numerous xrays they frequently undergo together with spine chilling details of examinations of persons are carried out in steel cages where every orifice of the body is looked into in order to ensure that a diamond, regardless of size, cannot be smuggled beyond the greedy paws of the mine owners. Draconian levels of punishment are zealously enforced, indeed, the author even speaks of how a person can receive a hefty punishment for picking up a piece of litter for fear that a diamond may be concealed. It might appear then that lurking in a seemingly insignificant corner of Africa there is a terrible tragedy that no truly civilised nation can dare to trade with yet continues to do so. It appears also that the price paid in human tragedy for the shallow egoistical pleasure of placing a sparkling stone on our lady's neck or fingure is excessively disproportionate. And yet we have the audacity to call ourselves civilised?
In contrast there are the images provided in your website. As stated earlier one can be forgiven for thinking that what they are seeing is an advert for a weekend break in Frankfurt. Pleasant looking chaps with guitars and beers in clean, cooled bars seem a very long way from the descriptions I have read so far. To go further at this juncture would be to venture into conjecture. Such an action would be a folly and wrong.
Perhaps then, somebody might be decent enough to come back to me and provide an alternative and proveable alternative to the horror story I have just read.
Best  Regards,
Mr Terence M Allen
tmallen@live.co.uk"

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

This shows how reports in papers can exaggerate and paint horror pictures.

That happy community surely is not reflected in that report.

I would have never come to Oranjemund if that was the truth.

Of course the security part bears a pinch of reality but is not as reported

Hope some guys respond with a mail and state whats up or invite the writer to join the forum and see what this site is all about.

Georg

[Bertie Horak]

Yes, I think we should reply.  It hurts to hear how facts are distorted by one person which creates misconceptions with readers who haven't had the privilege to visit or stay in our town. I will definitely also reply when I have a little more time.  The fact remains - I am so happy that I had the opportunity of spending the first 14-15 years of my life in Oranjemund, and wouldn't trade it for anything!

[Michael Alexander]

Here's my reply:

"Hi Allen, firstly my humblest apologies for the delay in replying to your email. Secondly, thank you for your interest in our unique little town.

As you will by now know, I run a non profit community based website for ex Oranjemunders. Due to the nature of mining, people tend to drift on and off the mines and we now have a situation where ex Oranjemunders are scattered to the four corners of the earth. Taking with them, their memories and friendships. As time passed, contact was lost with these people. As with all life, people passed on and we were always left wandering, who indeed was still alive and living where in the world. As a result I set up the Oranjemundonline site. We have resurrected many an old friendship. Brought our family back together. Anyhow, I digress, back to your letter....

When Diamonds were first discovered in the Namib desert, back in 1908, the German Colonial government of the day, declared a large area of the desert, the Sperrgebiedt.Any indigenous inhabitants were removed and almost all the diamond mining at the time occured in the Kolmanskop/Luderitz area.

Oranjemund was established, way back in 1936, as a series of wooden shacks, spread out over the desert floor. Only men were allowed into the Oranjemund Camp. As the diamond reserves proved to be highly rich and in abundance,the mine expanded and  the town started to grow, with all the facilities being made available. Woman were allowed in during the 40's. But as the article states, you were only allowed out once a year on your annual leave. You were required to have an Xray taken before departing.

The entire town was sealed off from the outside world, by barbed fencing and the mighty Atlantic Ocean and Namib desert made excellent natural boundaries. Every single building , piece of furniture and motor car belonged to the DeBeers empire.

One has to remember that this all occured in the 40's-70's, and contrary to what the author of that article states, the majority of the people living in Oranjemund were happy. You were like one big family, living in the safest place in the world. Yes! you were all accorded a number, but this was not burned onto your arm, you did not have to carry a card around with you all the time. This was your company work number. You could buy supplies in the store just by using your company number. Get your laundry cleaned, by using your company number...

During a damp night in the mid 70's, Oranjemund changed, the town was declared "open". What this actually meant , was that to the world at large, you could not just come to Oranjemund, in fact even today, you still cannot just visit Oranjemund. You need a permit.But what did happen, the fence/gate was moved to the west side of town, the side where the actual diamond fields started, thus enabling you to bring your private car into the town. You could come and go as you wanted....known as "crossing the bridge"
But life in Oranjemund was still locked away. Most people living here liked it that way, crime was kept very very low....the town was/is maintained for by the mining giant DeBeers and we have wild oryx grazing all over the lawns in the town..... We have excellent sporting facilties, recreation clubs and overall enjoy a high standard of life..Oranjemund also boasts one of the premier 18 hole golf courses in Namibia.

I posted your letter on the forum section of the internet to get a response from ex Oranjemunders. So you should receive a few emails with various peoples comments.

In essence, the article appears not to have been properly researched and if we did not know any better would have thought it was written sometime in the early 50's

We have to remember that if the Sperrgebiedt had not been proclaimed all those years ago, we would not have such a unque pristine stretch of land to declare a national park. We also have to remember that these diamond fields have produced the world's highest quality of gemstones and needed to protected.

Times are changing and my town has an uncertain future, but like so many Oranjemunders, around the world, we sir, were indeed priviledged to have called Oranjemund.....home.....


Please feel free to visit the forum section of our site to view the memories and comments of Oranjemunders.Link--> http://www.oranjemundonline.com/Forum/index.php

Yours in the Sand

Mike Alexander
(Oranjemunder)

Ps... I am no historian with regard to German Colonial History in Namibia and thus cannot comment on the topic. Perhaps a few of the forum members might."

[SandyB]

I  emailed Mr Allen  thanking him  for taking the time and bother  to  do  research   and  debunk for himself  the  poorly  researched and constructed  article .. giving  my  brief history  and  gratitude for  what  O'mund gave me .... and yes  telling him to regard himself as an honorary Oranjemunder   for taking  the bother  to  research ..

[DUNJA WRBKA]

 

Well done Michael...  Your response was great and I could not agree with you more!

I will treasure the years I spent growing up in Oranjemund forever.

[pam spackman]

Yes Mike I did point this out to you guys on Saturday already!!!

It was in Saturdays Daily Mail,we also sent them an email!!!

[Michael Alexander]

Pam, I have yet to see the article, do you still have it?

[pam spackman]

Yes indeed I do and the 'so called' journalist'sname is SEAN THOMAS!!

[Michael Alexander]

can you scan it and post it on the forum.... or at least email it me .......

[pam spackman]

Yes of course,but will have to wait till tomorrowwhen Keith is here

as me being the dud when it comes to copying,don't know how to as never

done it before. My comment is under 'whats in the news to day'can't type it as its

2 full newspaper pages long!!!!

[Michael Alexander]

Ok.... I found the article online..... for those of you who are interested in it

LINK:-->  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1138299/The-Holocaust-Horrifying-secrets-Germanys-earliest-genocide-inside-Africas-Forbidden-Zone.html

[Michael Alexander]

After reading the article...... in full and the comments section..... my opinion, a poorly researched article.....

I am offended that this chap tried to link Oranjemund and the Nazism..... idiot!

[Bertie Horak]

I responded to the article and posted a comment over the weekend, but I see it isn't shown yet.  Wonder how long it takes.
I also responded to Mr T.M. Allen's e-mail to show him how some of us who have actually been part of the community feel.

True Mike, except for a few nice "pictures" painted of nature, the rest a load of bull and like you said - smacks of an article from 1950!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks Mike for the Link

i could not help it, had to post a comment to the paper....not approved yet, i guess it will not be approved
Lets see tomorrow