A Nama Evangelist, Paul Plaatjies, was executed by the German authorities in Koës in 1905 after being accused of spying.

His descendant Dawid Plaaitjies recounted his story and called for his legacy to be recognised.
Plaatjies devoted his life to Christianity and spread the word across.

Germans capture Plaaitjies after they suspected him of spying on the German troops and relaying the information to the ||Haboben and !Khara-|Goan Nama clans' warriors who fought against them in the Koes battle of 1904.

"According to my father, the German troops forced him to dig his own grave and then executed him by a firing squad. It is very unfair for the government not to give recognition to our forefathers who played such a significant role during the war."

According to another descendent, Zak Dirkse, Plaaitjies was trusted by the Germans because he was an evangelist and was loyal to their cause. 

After the battle of Koes in 1904, the Germans discovered that among the 57 Nama warriors that were killed were also from the !Khara-|Goan clan. 

"How did they know about the war in Koes? So there must be someone who informed them? That's when they realised that Goab is a Plaaitjie and there is an evangelist Paul Plaaitjie who is in Koes. They have decided it must be him who sent the information; that's when they arrested him, and they accused him of spying and treason."

Plaaitjies shared final wishes before he was executed. 

"He said he actually has two wishes, which are to let his wife and children free and take them back to Keetmanshoop, and the second wish was to give me time to pray. Standing next to the grave he dug himself, he prayed, and he said he was ready to go, and the Germans were trying to blindfold him. He said there is no need for that because I connected with the creator."

Dirkse said nothing much has been said about Plaaitjies' life and sacrifice, calling for national recognition.