Konrad Erhard Zander

     Konrad Erhard Zander, son of Erhard Hugo Zander and Elisabeth Ida Ada Cramer, was born on 19 September 1920 at South West Africa.^6,4 His mother died when he was only one year old. She was pregnant with a second child when she developed pneumonia. Sadly, neither mother nor child survived the birth. The baby was born prematurely and lived only a few hours. They died at Farm Otjite-Nord (now Petersfarm), where they are also buried.

His father then purchased Monteith Ranch, where Konni and his father lived in the so-called Hartebeest House, a makeshift dwelling, until the construction on the house was complete. Konni's father was very busy with building the dam and house, so he was cared for by a Damara man named Kasuppi. He kept house for them for many years. Because of this, Konni learned Nama before he learned German. His entire life, he retained the Nama language and was able to communicate with his future ranch hands in that tongue.^9,10

Later, Konrad attended boarding school in Windhoek, and returned home to the Monteith Ranch only four times a year. For health reasons, Konni was later sent to the boarding school in Swakopmund, where he spent the remainder of his school time.¹¹

When the house was finished, his father remarried. His step-mother Käthe was the sister of his aunt Blondel Cramer. This change was very difficult for Konrad, especially because Käthe and Kasuppi didn't get along, and he therefore left.¹²

After high school, Konni worked for a couple of months on a ranch near Karibib. He then decided to work on a dairy farm near Rietfontein.¹¹

At the beginning of World War II, Konni's father was sent to a detention camp. As soon as Konrad became of age, he was also arrested and sent to a detention camp in Paviaanspoort in South Africa. Konrad was the youngest of the detainees, and participated in many attempts to break out. In each case, someone informed on them in the last moment and they were prevented from escaping.

Although he was full of mischief, since Konni was one of the youngest men the camp commander was lenient with him. Many years after the war Konni decided to visit the camp commander at his office. He asked the receptionist whether the man was in. She told him that he was in, but she needed to know Konni’s name to announce his visit. Konni wanted to surprise the commander, so did not want to give his name. He decided to give only his ID number. The receptionist shook her head, but went in to announce the visitor with his ID number. From down the hall, Konni heard someone yell excitedly, “Konni, come in man, come in!” To his secretary he said, “Please bring in coffee and some cookies. By the way, no visitors for the next two hours!”

Like his father, Konni was a talented handworker and tinkerer. During his stay in the detention camp, he built a one-meter-long battleship out of tin cans. It can still be viewed in the Swakopmund Museum.

In 1946, both father and son were released, but were not permitted to return to South West Africa for another year.¹²

On his return, Konni took over the Katemba Ranch as manager. Katemba was very primitive. The house had four small rooms with a tin roof and no ceiling. It was hot inside. There was no running water, just an outhouse. The food consisted of grits, home baked bread, milk, and homemade butter and much meat. Coffee, tea, and sugar were available. His father told him that he had to concentrate on building a dam in the river because there was only one well with a windmill. That left little time to improve the house.

Katemba was like a game park. There was an abundance of wildlife, elephants, giraffes, kudus, oryxes, ostriches, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, and diverse small game. Konni enjoyed studying all the animals. He soon started to sketch them. In time he became a well-known artist.¹¹

Konrad married Ilse Marie Helene Ella Emily Sievers, daughter of Friedrich Sievers and Albertine Margarete Julie Von Damm, on 20 January 1948 on Illmenau Ranch, Grootfontein.^4,6

Konrad bought Katemba-Autsaub Ranch from his father on 4 October 1949 for £ 5000. Konrad was to pay off the mortgage in a period of ten years at the rate of £ 500 a year, interest free, beginning in 1950. He also was transferred ownership of all inventory on the ranch, as well as all assets at the Standard Bank of Outjo.^1,13

In 1955, Konrad sold a portion of Katemba-Autsaub Ranch measuring 1507,2521 hectares to Willem Jacobus Prinsloo Alberts.¹⁴ He sold the remainder to Floris Nel in 1965.¹⁵

Konni and Ilse moved to Swakopmund for a short time, after which in 1966 they purchased Namatanga, a ranch near Outjo. In retirement they moved to Cape Town, South Africa.¹¹

Konrad died of Alzheimer's Disease on 27 March 2009 at Cape Town at age 88 years, 6 months and 8 days.^5,6