AUS – According to unverified reports, a resettled farmer identified as Hans Thomas, who is also an employee of the farm Gelap Oost in the Keetmanshoop district, has returned his portion of the farm, Farm Shanghai 102, to the government.

Farm Shanghai 102, near Aus in the Karas Region, is divided into two units of 4 324 hectares and 5 113 hectares. Sofia Jeaneth Swarts and Hans Thomas share the farm.

However, attempts to verify the rumour proved futile, as Thomas’ mobile phone was on voicemail. The owner of the second unit, Sofia Swarts, is a full-time farmer and was at the farm during this reporter’s visit.

Swarts says she has spent about N$10 000 on improving the water infrastructure on the resettlement farm in 2011. Her husband is employed by TransNamib at Aus.

Swarts is happy that her grazing land and fences are in good condition, although she is not so certain about her water, despite making the N$10 000 investment.

“I have 54 goats but I am planning to buy cattle and sheep with the N$65 000 that I am awaiting from Agri-bank,” she revealed. She also wants to buy 20 sheep with a ram, as well as 10 cows and a bull. Swarts uses a generator for electricity.