One of the organisers of the 1956 Women's March, Lilian Ngoyi
Thank you from SAHO
History in Images
A young victim of the atrocities committed by Belgium in the Congo stands next to a missionary.
Image Source:
www.wikimedia.org
Riot police play a game of soccer with youths in Nyanga on 27 August 1976. Photo by John Paisley
Image Source:
www.lib.uct.ac.za
A certificate of slavery for an infant named Sophie, dated 1827 Cape of Good Hope.
Image Source:
www.theculturetrip.com
Riot police attempt to block the way of workers leaving a May Day meeting at Khotso House in Johannesburg in May 1985.
Image Source:
www.digitalcollections.lib.uct.ac.za
A family sits outside the front door of their District Six home in Cape Town in the 1970s, prior to their forced removal. Photograph by Jansje Wissema.
Image Source:
www.digitalcollections.lib.uct.ac.za
Anna Johanna Dorothea De Villiers
Anna Johanna Dorothea de Villiers was a linguist, writer, and educator. She born on 24 December 1900 on the farm Saxenburg, Kuilsrivier. She was the eldest of six daughters and two sons of George Jacob de Villiers and his wife Anna Johanna Jacoba Bester. De Villiers received her first school education through Dutch as a medium of instruction, first from a governess and later from a man employed by her father to teach his children as the nearest school is too far.
Bertha Solomon
Bertha Solomon was born on 1 January 1892 in Minsk, Russia. At four years, she and her older sister were taken by their mother, Sonia Schwartz, to join their father, a Zionist pioneer, Idel Schwarz, in Cape Town. She graduated from the Anglican Diocesan College in 1911 with a BA degree in Classics, and then the South African College where she received a MA degree. Thereafter she taught Latin at Milburn House School for Girls in Cape Town, Western Cape where she met her husband Charles Solomon.
Oppermansgronde, Free State Province
It all began on 5 July 1825, Frederick Salomon Opperman and his 4 daughters were sold at a slave auction in Graaff-Reinet. His wife and his son were not sold on that day and they stayed behind. The slave owner initially allowed Frederik to visit his family from time to time; a journey that involved a 12-hour ride on horseback. However, when his family later had to move away from Graaff-Reinet he was refused permission to visit them.
Frederik escaped and was recaptured and beaten on, at least, three occasions before he finally managed to flee for good and settle near the Riet River. His son joined him and together they established a successful Farm. After several hunting expeditions, he managed to sell ivory and animal skins which laid the foundation for his wealth. He made efforts to unite his family; by the time that he located his 4 daughters in the vicinity of Swellendam, his wife had been dead for several Years already.
Adam Kok sold a Farm near Jacobsdal, to Frederik. Because he already had a big herd of cattle, he quickly began to buy up the neighboring Farms.
Frederik Opperman died on 3 November 1891 at the age of about 105 years. With the advent of Apartheid, as Coloured people, Opperman’s descendants were not allowed to purchase more Land in the Free State. Over time, they simply became too many for the limited space. The original Farms were sub-divided in such a way that they could no longer survive as economically viable farming units. Many younger people moved to the Cities and today Oppermansgronde is a small rural Town in the Free State.
Oppermansgronde is in the Letsemeng Local Municipality and is a Category B municipality situated in the south-western Free State Province within the Xhariep District. It is bordered in the North by the Lejweleputswa District, in the South by Kopanong, in the East by the Mangaung Metro, and in the West by the Northern Cape Province. It is one of three Municipalities in the District, making up almost a third of its geographical Area. Koffiefontein is the Municipal head office.
The socio-economic growth of the Municipality is centered on Agriculture. The municipal Area also has mining activities, with diamond minerals being the major natural resource that helps with employment creation.
Geolocation
24° 35' 56.4", -29° 26' 38.4"
References
A Coloured tapestry -Facebook
https://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/AJA00679208_464
https://municipalities.co.za/overview/1056/letsemeng-local-municipality
Further Reading
https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11660/10633/culna_n20_a3.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
https://web.facebook.com/pages/category/Real-Estate/Oppermansgronde-Free-State-105554144614050/?_rdc=1&_rdr
https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/Local/Express-News/planting-for-the-future-20160112
http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZALCC/2019/3.html
Potchefstroom
The name comes from the word: 'Potscherf'- (meaning broken pot). This was due to the cracks that appear in the soil of the Mooi River Valley during a drought.
Potchefstroom, or 'Potch' as it’s known to locals, is described as a large, Academic Town. Potchefstroom is indeed home to the popular North-West University, formerly known as the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. It is also home to five Tertiary Institutions and some 30 Schools.
There is a very strong Farming Community, the Country’s largest Chalk Factory and one of the largest Organ Factories, in South Africa. The driving distance between Potchefstroom to Johannesburg, is 120 km. It takes approximately 1h and a half Hours to drive from Potchefstroom to Johannesburg.
Potchefstroom was the first Town North of the Vaal River and has a Historical legacy that includes: The largest oak tree Avenue, in the Southern Hemisphere and various National Monuments; like the old Police Station Building and the Heimat Building. This Building represents an important milestone in the History of the development of the Potchefstroom 'Universiteit vir Christelike Hoer Onderwys'. This neo-Cape Dutch Building known as' Heimat', designed by Gerard Moerdijk and completed as a students' Hostel in 1927. It was the first permanent Building to be erected on the University Campus.
The Magistrate’s Office, the old Gunpowder House and various Churches worth visiting. The Edwardian City Hall, together with that of Krugersdorp, is the oldest existing City Hall, North of the Vaal River. The President Pretorius Museum in Potchefstroom is situated at the meeting point of 'Esselen' and 'Van der Hoff' Streets. The Museum is one of the typical old Cape-style homes, believed to have been built by President Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, in 1868. Along with the House, he likely also built; a Stable, Coach House and Smithy. President Pretorius was the first president of the South African Republic and he founded the City of Pretoria. The President Pretorius Museum tells the story of the unique 'Urban Boer Culture'. This culture has dissipated over the generations, but is still a massive contributor to the South African identity. The President Pretorius Museum has been declared a National Monument.
The 'Prozesky Bird Sanctuary', is home, to 200 different bird species. Buffelsvlei Wild Animal Park is definitely worth a visit, and a monthly; 'Art Market' in the City Council Gardens also provides interesting purchases. Potchefstroom Sanlam Auditorium, which is part of the University. Serves both the City and neighboring Towns with high caliber Theatre.
Geolocation
-26° 40' 37.2", 26° 52' 37.2"
Further Reading
https://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/northwest/bysuburb/potchefstroom/
https://www.portfoliocollection.com/travel-blog/potchefstroom-art-and-antique-fair
https://www.kimleigh.co.za/about-us/
https://www.pekelharing.co.za/about/
http://studies.nwu.ac.za/studies/apply/potchefstroom/
https://services.nwu.ac.za/arts/sanlam-auditorium-f14
https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/gerard-moerdyk
https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/concerns-over-longest-avenue-oak-trees-south-africa
https://www.safarinow.com/destinations/parys/animalparks.aspx
https://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/northwest/buffelsvlei-wild-animal-park/
https://michael-angelo.co.za/attractions/
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History in Images
One of the organisers of the 1956 Women's March, Lilian Ngoyi
A young victim of the atrocities committed by Belgium in the Congo stands next to a missionary.
Image Source:
www.wikimedia.org
Riot police play a game of soccer with youths in Nyanga on 27 August 1976. Photo by John Paisley
Image Source:
www.lib.uct.ac.za
A certificate of slavery for an infant named Sophie, dated 1827 Cape of Good Hope.
Image Source:
www.theculturetrip.com
Riot police attempt to block the way of workers leaving a May Day meeting at Khotso House in Johannesburg in May 1985.
Image Source:
www.digitalcollections.lib.uct.ac.za
A family sits outside the front door of their District Six home in Cape Town in the 1970s, prior to their forced removal. Photograph by Jansje Wissema.
Image Source:
www.digitalcollections.lib.uct.ac.za
