There’s a feeling that Riemvasmaak doesn’t quite fire on *. They advertise walking trails, four-wheel drive routes and abseiling, but nothing seems very organized. 

Hello, Norbert, hi, good to see you, hello.

Come and have a seat. 

Thank you.

Before I leave the village, I’m meeting with one true Nama character now enthusiastically involved in developing the future of the area.

This must be a very challenging place to live. The environment is tough on human beings.

Oh yes, very, very tough…The water supply is the biggest problem in Riemvasmaak. In summer, December, it go(es) up to 40 degrees. And you must wash, you mush wash your cloths. And sometimes, our people, our family stay in Cape Town or in Namibia and come for holiday, at that time…

So you have more people…

…more people to use water. At that time, no water sometimes.

Riemvasmaak enjoys some genuine celebrity in South Africa. Immediately following the first open elections in 1994, the area was a pioneering example of land restitution with the Namas returning from 20 years enforced exile in their native land of Namibia.