Alberton Voortrekkers' wreath laying to commemorate lives lost during Anglo-Boer war
More than seven decades before the Soweto uprisings, Lord Roberts, who was the commander of the British forces during the Anglo-Boer War, issued one of the most consequential proclamations of the war.
The year is 1900, and Roberts' proclamation on June 16 resulted in the launch of the 'scorched earth policy', which led to the destruction of Boer farms and caused women and children to end up in concentration camps.
The Anglo-Boer War was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (South African Republic and Orange Free State) over Britain's ambitions to takeover in Southern Africa. Alberton's Voortrekkers spent their holiday on Monday, June 16, at a wreath-laying and remembrance ceremony for the lives lost during the Anglo-Boer War.
'It is not just statistics. It is names, families. These are people who are still recalled in family histories to this day with tears in their eyes,' Die Voortrekkers said in a statement.
'On June 16, we commemorate not only the camps. We commemorate the people, the children who never made it to their first day of school,.the mothers who tried to protect their families with no support or means,' reads the statement.
Die Voortrekkers' commemorative ceremony was held at the Turffontein Concentration Camp Memorial Grounds. This location was used by the British as a concentration camp housing an estimated 4 000 Boer women and children.
'This is a day of mourning, but also a day of realisation. To realise that freedom doesn't come for free. Join The Pioneers if you want to learn more, remember together, and help build a future where our children will carry their legacy on with dignity,' said the Die Voortrekkers.
To follow the work of Die Voortrekkers in Alberton, visit their Facebook page at 'Die Voortrekkers – Org Meyer – Alberton,' their website, or email admin.orgmeyer@oosvaal.voortrekkers.co.za for more information.
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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
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Daily Maverick
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The Citizen
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However, these outward signs of unity belied an underlying ideological tension, especially within the educational sphere, where British jingoists and Boer nationalists clashed over the cultural direction of their children's schooling. 'With the Transvaal now a British colony, Krugersdorp assumed an overtly jingoistic Imperial identity. This was reflected in architectural choices; new buildings were named Victoria or Jubilee, and patriotic holidays like Empire Day were celebrated with Union Jacks, bunting, evergreens strung across buildings, and even a giant gilded crown suspended over Market Street. 'Yet this ideological intensity gradually softened. As the town grew, though still relatively small, its population became more closely knit. Social interaction between Boers and British fostered new friendships and a budding sense of 'South Africanism,' a sentiment that also found expression in the built environment. This is where the birth of the Wanderers Sports Ground in 1906 was conceived, as a space to promote reconciliation through sport,' he added. The sports grounds were ideally located – between Coronation Park (established to commemorate King Edward VII's 1902 coronation and laid out on the former site of the Krugersdorp concentration camp) and the Boer nationalist Paardekraal Monument. It was also adjacent to Church Square, the open ground near the Dutch Reformed Church used by visiting farmers as an outspan area during quarterly communion weekends. This space still exists today between the stadium and Kobie Krige Street. • Also read: Through war and worship: A church's 135-year story 'The sports field provided neutral ground for the town's two white elite groups to interact. Middle-class residents, who dominated the town's sports clubs, also served as key figures in local governance and commerce. These clubs often brought together the middle and working classes. One such figure was HS Kingdon, a local merchant who served as secretary of the Krugersdorp Wanderers Club, as well as the local Association Football, Rugby, and Baseball clubs. He was also a member of the Krugersdorp Chamber of Commerce and later became a town councillor. Popular among the working class due to his involvement in sport, Kingdon once shared a stage with Mr Holmes at a public by-election meeting, where Holmes endorsed his candidacy. Kingdon was opposed by RF Thomas, a retired mine manager of the Windsor Gold Mine, who had served as deputy mayor from 1903–1904.' The original pavilion was given an art deco facelift in the 1930s, along with matching entrance gates in the same style. He said the Wanderers Club field, located near the small spring behind the current President Hyper Shopping Centre, was later named in honour of one of Krugersdorp's most accomplished rugby players – Jan Willem Lotz. Jan Lotz was born in Krugersdorp on August 26, 1910 and attended Krugersdorp High School. Standing 1.83m tall and weighing around 92kg, he made his test debut as hooker for the Springboks on June 26, 1937, in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 26. He went on to play eight test matches: • June 26, 1937: Australia – win: 9–5 (Sydney Cricket Ground) • July 17, 1937: Australia – win: 26–17 (Sydney Cricket Ground) • August 14, 1937: New Zealand – lost: 7–13 (Athletic Park, Wellington) • September 4, 1937: New Zealand – win: 13–6 (Lancaster Park, Christchurch) • September 25, 1937: New Zealand – win: 17–6 (Eden Park, Auckland) • August 6, 1938: Britain – win: 26–12 (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) • September 3, 1938: Britain – win: 19–3 (St George's Park, Port Elizabeth) • September 10, 1938: Britain – Lost: 16–21 (Newlands, Cape Town) Jaco concluded that Jan Lotz passed away on August 13, 1986, at the age of 75. Legendary Springbok coach Doc Danie Craven described him as a wonderful man, a clever player, and one of the game's greatest characters.
