Nieu-Bethesda's beloved dam mannequin does a disappearing act

Residents of Nieu-Bethesda in the Karoo are beside themselves with worry after their beloved Beverly, an art installation, was stolen from her farm dam on the Doornberg road.

- By Estelle Ellis

Two years ago, local artist Ryno Greeff bought a woman mannequin from a secondhand shop and brought it home. He dressed it in a one-piece swimming costume and drove it to the Doornkop farm near the town, where he placed it in a dam. It soon became known as “Beverly's” dam.

“Beverly's dam is one of the most beautiful farm dams in the Karoo,” Greeff said.

Ever since, Beverly has been standing in the dam on the way to Greeff’s stone-art installation, the Stonefolk of Ongeluksloot.

“She soon had a life of her own in that dam. People would drive there, stop and get into the dam with her. They liked swimming with her,” he said.