Chaudamas

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HISTORY

Founded by Gabriël Jacobus Vermeulen and Fransina Catharina Elizabeth Vermeulen. Farm Chaudamas is situated in the northern part of Namibia, in the Kunene region and with a size of 5000ha, it has the capacity to thrive. Currently the Farm is owned by Frikkie Vermeulen (Eldest son of Gabriël and Fransina)

Fransina Catharina Vermeulen was born on the 4th of February 1937, and formed part of the “Angolan Dorsland Trekkers”. On her 18th birthday, she married Gabriël Jacobus Vermeulen, and together they purchased and farmed on a number of farms commencing during the 1950’s. They gave birth to 5 children, namely:

• Engela Maria Magdalena Elizabeth Rabald (Known as Engela) - First Child
• Frederik Antonie Vermeulen (Known as Frikkie) - Second Child
• Petrus Johannes Vermeulen (Known as Wollie) - Third Child
• Gabriël Jacobus Vermeulen (Known as Gawie) - Fourth Child
• Johannes Marthinus Vermeulen (Known as Hannes) - Fifth Child

Fransina, the mother of 5, was a remarkable and formidable woman. She had the determination to overcome the most difficult of obstacles, such as fixing motor vehicle engines and installing electric solar panel systems, which set her apart from the traditional housewife. Her amazing attention to detail and immense commitment in keeping things neat and tidy, was commendable. Her vast amount of talents seemed limitless and assisted her well during her lifetime. She was well known, in Outjo, as the “IRON LADY”. However, things took a turn for the worse, as Fransina was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in November of 2003. She passed away on the 31st of March 2007.

THE DISPUTE OVER THE WILL

A will was drafted and signed on the 21st of October 1970 between Gabriël and Fransina, in a joined estate. After Gabriël, the husband, passed away on the 26th of September 1992, his wife Fransina inherited everything. A few years after, on the 1st of October 1994, Fransina executed her own will, in which all her children were beneficiaries.

Surprisingly, Fransina executed a second will on the 18th of August 2000. However, this will was opposed by Fransina’s two eldest children, Frikkie Vermeulen and Engela Rabald, as they had strong reason and an overwhelming amount of evidence to support the idea that their mother suffered with Alzheimer’s disease, long before she was diagnosed in November of 2003, and that she was unable to draft a will to the best of her capacity, during that time. After their mother passed away in 2007, Frikkie Vermeulen and Engela Rabalt took the matter to court and a case file was opened, “CASE NO.: I 3284/2007, Vermeulen: FA and another v Vermeulen: GJ and others”, in which they argued that the will executed in 2000 be nullified and that the previous will of 1994 be reinstated. According to medical tests conducted by Dr. Sieberhagen on the 20th of November 2003, which was also presented to court, it was found that Fransina was already in phase 2 of the Alzheimer disease and was unable to grasp the implications of financial decisions for quite a lengthy period of time, before 2003. It was believed that Fransina was already in Phase 2 of the Alzheimer disease long before her executing the second will on the 18th of October 2000, though, this could not be proven and supported by medical tests. However, the amount of facts and evidence cumulated during the 1999 – 2003 period, by Frikkie and Engela, was quite staggering, and supported the suspicion that their mother Fransina, was not of sound mind and incapable of looking after herself. On a question from the Court, Dr. Sieberhagen testified that from the symptoms described during the course of 2000 “it is fairly clear that Ms. Vermeulen must have suffered from significant symptoms of [the] illness already at that time”, and he testified that these symptoms would place her in Stage 2 of Alzheimer’s disease. Also very noticeable, was the rather dubious look that the will of 2000 exhibited, in that, only one of the children would inherent the only immovable asset, FARM CHAUDAMAS, including ALL farm equipment, vehicles, cattle, poultry, furniture and personal belongings of Fransina.

CONCLUSION

On the 31st of March, the Supreme Court of Namibia concluded that the will signed on the 18th of August 2000 be dismissed, and that the will signed on the 1st of October 1994 be reinstated.
This court battle stretched over 10 years. Most remarkable, was the sheer determination, admirable patience and the “NEVER SAY DIE” attitudes displayed by both Frikkie Vermeulen and Engela Rabald in this period, which exposed the truth behind the hidden agenda which led to the will that was drafted and executed on the 18th of August 2000.
The aim is to keep farm Chaudamas in the Vermeulen family, and build up the farm to persevere and prosper.

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