Hermanus Beukes
Hermanus Christoffel Beukes was a Coloured Namibian politician and activist. Beukes was a frequent petitioner of the United Nations because of Apartheid South Africa's actions while Namibia was held under its mandate.Abduction
Beukes was in a group of Namibians who fled to neighboring Botswana in 1963. Alongside Kenneth Abrahams, Andreas Shipanga and fellow Baster Paul Smit, the group fled the country because of their actions in recruiting soldiers for SWAPO's military wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia. South African agents in Botswana abducted the foursome and returned them to Namibia. Following international pressure regarding the illegality of state-sponsored kidnapping, South Africa returned the four to Botswana. Intending to travel to New York City to petition the United Nations for Namibia in person, Beukes could not adjust to the changed environment and returned to Rehoboth. In Rehoboth, Beukes was a shoemaker.
