Following the failed attempt to emigrate, and the subsequent arrest of Abram Driedger, head of the family, the Driedger and Vogt families, along with Margaretha Driedger and the other children, were repatriated to Pretoria in December 1929. In Pretoria, a collective farm had been established in early 1930. The Driedger family was dispossessed of their land (approx. 90 ha.) and was not taken into the collective farm because of their designated status as former members of the Kulak class. They and four other families from the village were allocated a total of 10 hectares of land, along with four horses. These five families produced a better harvest in 1930, on their 10 hectares of land, than the collective farm with all of its land. Of course, this did not match the State image of the ‘successful’ collective farm. Therefore, it was decided to banish these families from the village.

     Prior to their banishment, it is likely that all four families lived together on one property, whether in the house and or other farm buildings. For Anna Bergen (Maria Loewen’s older sister), a single woman, that appears to have been her fate, although she was not excluded from the collective farm. Her letter of the early 1930s gives a glimpse into living conditions.

I am still, thank God, in good health and have been living with Franz Warkentins since October 2, since others were to move into the Driedgers’ house. Metzlehrks with four children live in the large room; Unruhs with three children live in the corner room, and the fourth is to arrive soon. In the middle room, David Nickels with two children; and Peters in the summer room, where I lived. And in the dining room, a very young couple who take care of the pigs. And so I have it better here, for how long, I don’t know, because you have to go where they send you.

You write that you have a lot of chickens there. We had to report on how many we thought we could bring through the winter. We were supposed to keep two chickens per person. There should be 10 pounds of millet for feed. Now they took that for the pigs, and we have nothing. So we do not know what to feed the chickens for the winter.

I receive 1 liter of milk per day. I had to get firewood myself, so I bought 1000 sods at 55 rubles from the Russians. That will last me half the winter; then I will have to move in together with someone else. I had sawed wood, from a tree, with a girl, which we wanted to share. But because we did not ask, we did not know that we should. So most of it was confiscated from us. Money, I have no more and get none. I do not know how it will continue. I still have 1200 rubles owing to me; well, the old god is still alive.

Bread we got on 7 months 5 pud wheat. It is also not enough. So, if the request came, and I could do it, I would answer yes. Because it looks very gloomy. Otherwise I would not want to, because I am already old, I can not go alone (Anna Bergen, November 1, 1933).

From Maria Loewen’s younger sister:

Today is 8 March, the letter goes today. Johann goes to buy something, Anna got 58 rubles, our stock is all gone. Today, if there is no bread, we will fast. Last night was celebrated here women’s holiday. After the speech, we women and girls were given gifts. We were 44 souls and together we received 3 kilos of bread and 5 small bonfires each. They are careful with us, the together snuffed.

Stomach should not be overloaded.  I think that by the time our bread arrives today, the gift will have been reduced. Now we hope that our attempt will not be canceled. We are in a tight spot, if I could write differently, you would like us better.  (March 7, 1930, Margaretha Driedger)

From Abraham Loewen’s older brother:

I say thank you very much for the package that you dear brothers and sisters have sent us. May the Lord repay you? There were five kilos of rice, 2 1/2 kilos of flour, a kilo of sugar, a piece of bacon. I have already fried myself a piece, it always tastes very good. For my husband, the food is a bit meager when he stands at the planing bench almost every day. For me, the meager diet is not bad at all because I have a weak stomach. Now we will feast on the beautiful rice, we have not seen anything like it for a long time. (April 19 1932, Isaak Loewen)

These conditions appear to have been prevalent throughout the 1930s and most of the 1940s – certainly during the war. In fact, Anna Bergen and Isaac Loewen both died shortly after WW II.