Regular Newsletter/Gereelde Nuusbrief
No. 157
17.02.2015
www.routesmp.co.za
Click: Follow the history/Click: Mpumalanga Historical Interest
NOTE: That this is not an edited publication but merely a compilation of the
contributions and comments as received from members and participants
A regular edited annual will be available shortly
REG. 126-240 NPO
INHOUD/CONTENT
Opname van alle oorblywende ossewaens
Pilgrim's Rest - Tracing the Tramway
A Night March in South Africa
The Battle for Botshabelo
Die stryd om Botshabelo
Possibility of a news investigation for television, to follow
Die volgende korrespondesie is die afgelope dae oor die haglike toestand van
die opelug museum by Botshabelo gevoer:
Cecilia Kruger, Senior Bestuurder: Erfenisbewaring / Senior Manager: Heritage
Conservation writes:
Please see article (as it appeared in Newsletter 156) re Botshabelo. This mission station
turned 150 years old on the 5th of Feb – and certainly looks it...
There have been numerous unsuccessful attempts, the last of which was a meeting with
SAHRA and the local community in August 2014 in Pretoria, to try and save this invaluable
part of our cultural history. Not even a set of minutes was received after August.
WHAT can we do about this!? The Heritage Foundation has its hands full with numerous
similar cases countrywide – all comes to nil because of the rights of everybody (except for
the right of our invaluable, irreplaceable heritage which cannot be renewed - according to
the preamble of Act 25 of 1999....)
Anchen Dreyer, Lid van die Parlement DA Federale ondervoorsitter & Parlementêre
koukusvoorsitter skryf:
Ek het die saak weereens aangestuur na dr. Allen Grootboom, DA adjunkskaduminister van
Kuns en Kultuur, asook Anthony Benadie, DA provinsiale leier in Mpumalanga, vir hulle
verdere aandag.
Cecilia Kruger skryf:
Dankie Anchen – ek sien Anthony het reeds ‘n mediaverklaring uitgereik. Harald Pakendorf
werk ook aan die moontlikheid om ‘n insetsel op Fokus (TV 2) te kry.
Harald Pakendorf, skryf:
Dag Cecilia - vergadering met Fokus vind nou eers more plaas. Maar die aanvanklike
gesprekke was positief. Het julle dalk video materiaal oor Botshabelo, of foto’s. Dit sal dit
makliker maak.
Cecilia Kruger skryf:
Ons het heelwat foto’s, ongelukkig nie videomateriaal nie. Dalk het die ouens van die
koerant in Middelburg? Moet ons vir jou die foto’s stuur of hoe gemaak?
Harald Pakendorf (Sent: 11 February), skryf:
Hallo Cecilia - ek sien die Fokus-mens middaguur. Sal dan groter sekerheid he.
Kan Anchen nie die saak by die nasionale erfenismense opper nie? Verder: jou kontak in die
Mpumalanga DA kan moontlik navrae doen oor die verslag wat ‘n Wits-professor so drievier jaar gelede oor Botshabelo se geskiedenis geskryf het. Die navraag sal al help om druk
te verhoog.
Cecilia Kruger skryf:
Die DA-lid in Mpumalanga, mnr Anthony Benadie het reeds ‘n persverklaring uitgestuur.
Anchen het die taak na hom toe gedelegeer, so ek reken mens moet hom seker direk
betrek. Ek vermoed die Wits professor is Peter Delius.
Sterkte met die vergadering. Ek Hoop REGTIG daar kan nou iets van kom!
Riana sal vanoggend vir jou enkele foto’s stuur.
Harald Pakendorf, skryf:
Goeie vergadering gehad, hulle wil graag ‘n program maak, mik na einde Maart, vroeg April.
Hoër gesag moet natuurlik nog instem. Maar dit lyk alles baie positief.
Cecilia Kruger skryf:
Geluk Harald. Dis baie goeie nuus!.
Laat weet asb net wanneer ons wat moet doen en ons is daar.
Mpumalanga Heritage Project/ Erfenis Projek:
Remaining ox wagons to be catalogued
Opname van alle oorblywende ossewaens
The following was published in Lowvelder 13 February 2015
MBOMBELA - Daar is nog ‘n hele paar ou ossewaens in die Laeveld en omgewing. ‘n Projek is nou
geloods om almal op te spoor en op ‘n lys te plaas.
Die landwye projek is hierdie week deur Mpumalanga Erfenis bekendgestel en word in samewerking
met Prof. Eric Holm gedoen.
Holm is een van Suid-Afrika se grootse kenners oor ossewaens. Hy is tans besig met die skryf van ‘n
omvattende fotoboek oor die onderwerp wat ook ‘n lys van elke bestaande ossewa in die land sal
insluit.
Die lystingprojek is verlede Saterdag in Mbombela aangekondig met die maandelikse byeenkoms
van Mpumalanga Erfenis waar Holm die spreker was.
Tydens sy praatjie by Hoërskool Nelspruit het hy gesê dat die vierwiel-ossewa ‘n voertuig is wat
uniek aan Suid-Afrika is.
Dit is aanvanklik as ‘n Hollandse boerewa deur skeepsbouers aan die Kaap gebou en hier verder
ontwikkel.
Dit was belangrik om die geskikte plaaslike houtsoorte te vind. Eers was daar die kakebeenwa wat ‘n
mens veral op afbeelding uit die Groot Trek sien en later die groter bokwa, of transportwa, wat ook
hier in die vroeë ontwikkeling van die Laeveld baie opvallend was.
Almal wat weet van so ‘n wa wat nog iewers staan, word genooi om Mark Neelde van Mpumalanga
Erfenis by 082-933-1939 of [email protected] te skakel met inligting oor die plek, eienaar en
toestand van die wa. Foto’s en die presiese GPS-lesing sal ook baie welkom wees.
Pilgrim's Rest - Tracing the Tramway
By Peter Ball - www.heritageportal.co.za Saturday, 7 February, 2015
"On reaching the bottom of Robber’s Pass on a journey towards the village of Pilgrim’s Rest you will notice on
your left the Golf Club, but should you glance to the right you will see at intervals elegant cast iron poles each
with a curved outrigger. You may well ponder as to what they are and after three guesses will still be none the
wiser. To know the answer you will have to know some of the history of Pilgrim’s Rest.
The first gold rush took place in 1873 when gold was found close to a waterfall, on the farm Geelhoutboom,
located on the eastern Transvaal escarpment. The President of the South African Republic, President Burgers,
visited the site and named the camp “MacMac” on account of the many Scotsmen who had registered their
claims. The spot was proclaimed as the New Caledonia Goldfields and soon became overcrowded with diggers.
One of the diggers decided to move on and try his luck elsewhere and by pushing a wheelbarrow, containing his
stores and belongings, found a valley with a small creek that ran into the Blyde River. On panning in the stream
he found rich deposits of alluvial gold. His name was Alec “Wheelbarrow” Paterson and he had found a payable
gold field. Paterson tried to keep his discovery to himself, but another prospector soon followed him into the
valley and struck gold. He was William Stafford and he rushed back to “MacMac” to register his claim at the
Gold Commissioner’s Office. It did not take long for the word to spread and a new rush of diggers descended on
the valley which was on a farm named Ponieskranz. However the new diggings would be known henceforth as
Pilgrim’s Rest and it was proclaimed a gold field on 22nd September 1873 and by the end of that year there
were 1500 diggers working 4000 claims in the valley.
Distant view of Pilgrims Rest - Railways Magazine (December 1978)
During the next four years the diggers worked on the recovery of the alluvial gold, from the beds of the streams
and their banks, by means of sluice boxes and cradles. By 1877 the alluvial gold was petering out and many of
the diggers would move away. But there was still gold locked in “them thar hills” and the simple methods of
panning and sluicing which were the diggers’ methods of gold extraction (from the streams) were no longer
suitable. Recovery of gold in the ground requires expensive mechanical and chemical processes which were
beyond the means of the ordinary digger.
By 1881 The South African Republic had been re-instated after the Boers had won back their independence
from Britain, by winning the Battle of Majuba Hill (27-02-1881). However military victory did not equate to
economic success and the coffers of the Volksraad were almost empty. In order to stimulate their ailing
economy the Volksraad decided to grant concessions to private individuals and in the case of the gold fields of
Pilgrim’s Rest a London financier, named David Benjamin offered to pay the sum of £ 1 000 per annum for the
mining rights to the farm Ponieskrantz (on which Pilgrim’s Rest stood). The Volksraad accepted his offer with
the proviso that the remaining diggers be compensated for the loss of their claims. There would be other mining
operations but Benjamin would control the lion’s share.
Within two years Benjamin’s Transvaal Gold Exploration Company began its operations and the major
difficulty of exploiting the gold reserves was logistical, in that Pilgrim’s Rest was located, in mountainous
country remote from major habitation and although it was more or less on a route between Delagoa Bay and
Pretoria (Johannesburg did not exist), the route was not a road but merely a track on which an ox-wagon could
labour through the fever stricken Lowveld, to and from Delagoa Bay.
Pilgrims Rest - Ox Wagon Transport - Railways Magazine
The film of “Jock of the Bushveld” gives some idea of the terrible conditions that prevailed at that time. All
mining equipment was brought in by ox-wagon from the coast and gold bars were taken out by stage coach
towards Lydenburg and thence Pretoria.
As time rolled by Pilgrim’s Rest became more established with the tented camp giving way to a village of
corrugated iron houses and shops, the village even boosted its own hotel, the “Royal Hotel”, which is still open
for guests today.
The mine workings were spreading far and wide as new gold deposits were found further away from the original
valley of Pilgrim’s Creek and by the mid 1890’s it was fully realised that an amalgamation of the gold mining
interests to form one large entity would be the way ahead. And so it was that the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates
Ltd. (T.G.M.E.) was formed in 1896.
The timing could not have been worse as the amalgamation coincided with the outbreak of Rinderpest epidemic,
which decimated the herds of livestock along with the vital oxen. Pilgrim’s Rest’s life line was dependent on the
Ox-wagon and the mines came to a near standstill through lack of supplies.
At that time the T.G.M.E. employed Mr Wertheman as consulting engineer and he was tasked with the
implementation of a modernisation plan. A plan which included the building of a new central reduction works
with a 60 stamp mill to replace the existing stamp mills located at the workings.
The question arose of how to bring the broken ore to the central reduction works, which was answered in a very
innovative manner. Electric traction was a new form power for haulage and Werner von Siemens had been its
pioneer, when from May to September 1879 he operated a short passenger carrying railway in the grounds of the
Berlin Trades Exhibition. In the seventeen years since, development in electric power had progressed
sufficiently to make electric traction a worthwhile proposition, especially as oxen were dying with the
Rinderpest. Wertheman therefore put forward the proposal of using an electric powered tramway for the
haulage of cocopans (side tipping wagons), which was approved by the Board. This now begs the question of
how was electricity to be generated? The answer was by hydro-electric power. There was a small power station
at the foot of Brown’s Hill, which in summer if the river was running well gave enough power to run a small
mill. In winter when the river reduced its flow it would be out of action! Wertheman solved the problem by
enlarging the power station and by building a water race some 2½ miles (4 km) long from higher up the river.
The race was 6’-6” (2.0 m) wide by 5’-0” (1.524 m) deep and was lined throughout by iron plates riveted
together. The race carried 40 cubic feet per second (68 cubic metres/minute), had a fall of 115 feet (35 metres)
and could generate 362 hp (275 kW).
The tramway was a stroke of genius as it proved to be cheaper to run per ton of ore compared to a contractor’s
ox-wagon. It could also run in nearly all weathers and could be extended as new mine workings were developed.
The tramway had a rail gauge of 2’-6” (762 mm) and originally ran for 8 miles (13 km), which was later
extended to 12.5 miles (20 km). The tramway lasted as long as the Mine Co. and when the T.G.M.E. closed in
1972 so did the tramway.
Ore on rail - Railways Magazine 1978
Today the mine operations are still being worked by Stonewall Mining, which has resumed the search for the
elusive
yellow
metal
at
various
locations
around
Pilgrim’s
Rest.
What of the mystery of those cast iron poles by the side of the road. They are a rusty reminder of a bygone era,
when they once supported the overhead power line that energised the electric locomotives (500 Volts) that
pulled wagons laden with gold bearing rock to be processed at the central reduction works.
References and Further Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
“The History of Pilgrim’s Rest” by Judith Schultz (Information Centre)
“Pilgrim’s Rest” booklet with photos by Deney Allen
“Valley of Gold” by A.W. Cartwright.
“Digging Deep” by Jade Davenport
“How it all began, Heavy Haul – S. Africa 1897” by Roger S. Fairfax.
“The Discovery of Wealth” Heritage Series: 19th century, by Diko Van Zyl.
“Jock of the Bushveld” by Percy Fitzpatrick.
A Night march in South Africa
The following is an account of a Night March near Ermelo, written by Capt. C. de B. Boone (O.H.), 1st
Essex Regt., at present attached to the 14th Mounted Infantry,
Jennifer Bosch posted in The Anglo-Boer War (The South African War) - 1899 - 1902
Jennifer Bosch
4:53am Feb 11
(This piece lifted me from my desk and transported me right into the saddle on the night march.
Hope it does the same for you. I am unable to identify the who, what and why - maybe someone
can fill in the blanks.)
Haileyburian, April 2, 1902.
Ermelo,
Jan. 14, 1902.
I dare say you have heard about Bruce Hamilton’s successes lately, so a description of one of his
night marches may be interesting. On Saturday last we got orders to parade at a certain rendezvous
at four o’clock in the afternoon, getting there in small parties between three and four p.m., so as not
to excite the suspicion of any Boer spies on the distant hills.
We were to start at seven p.m. Just as we were having a scratch meal at six o’clock, orders arrived
to saddle up, and start at once; the guns and pontoons not to accompany the force. Evidently some
fresh information had come in. We trotted off in a great hurry, picking up contingents of mounted
men from the various columns camped round Ermelo as we went, until our total strength must have
amounted to something approaching 2,000. At the same time a couple of guns, some wagons, and a
few mounted men were sent off in the opposite direction to make a demonstration and bluff the
Boer picquets. The sun was now setting, and already one or two stars had appeared. By sunrise we
should have covered many miles of veldt. We struck off in a North-westerly direction, and soon cut
into a road running North.
It was quite dark now, and the order was passed along to stop smoking and talking. One Tommy,
with some sense of humour, called out “ Good-night, all and we settled down to a long, long, weary
ride. I looked at my watch by the light of my cigarette, before throwing it away. It was just seven
o’clock. Nothing was to be heard but the monotonous swish, swish, as we moved through the grass,
and the chink of the horses champing at their bits. It was a lovely starlight night, quite warm, while
an occasional flash of summer lighting played across the sky. It is a weird sensation, that of being
one of a large body of men all moving along silently, like spectres in the dark. Sometimes as we
passed under the shadow of a kopje, the darkness was so thick that the ground seemed to
disappear beneath us, and one could only tell one was moving by the motion of the horse. Far away
in the distance we could see a search light flashing a long ray of light across the veldt. We thought
this must be from Middleburg, on the Delagoa Bay line. We moved along at a good pace, about four
miles an hour. Occasionally a slight check occurred at a drift, but there was barely time to dismount
before we were moving on again. Usually we had to trot for about five minutes to catch up after one
of these checks. Sometimes we came to rough ground, dongas, etc., and the different regiments got
all mixed up. They had to sort themselves out—no easy job in the dark. But the head of the column
never stopped long for anybody, and it was a case of Devil (or the Boers) take the hindermost.
It was during one of these short halts, when the rear of the column was closing up, that the stillness
of the night was suddenly broken by six or seven shots, fired in rapid succession, and spurts of light
shot out from a hill on our right front. Then followed silence—save only for the croaking of some
frogs in a pond nearby.
“ That will disturb the game for miles round,” I heard someone mutter in a disgusted tone. It was
just midnight, and wanted yet three and a half hours to dawn. Again we pressed on in silence as
before, hoping that the shots we had just heard had not come from a Boer picquet, who would
alarm their friends in the laager. On, on, on, jog, jog, jog,—oh, those weary hours before dawn !
Would the light never come ?
I tried to keep myself awake by looking at the stars. There was Orion’s belt with his sword stuck in it
wrong side up, as of course the constellation is topsy-turvy in this hemisphere. I was dimly
wondering where his legs would be, and how uncomfortable it must be always standing on one’s
head, when a sudden bump, as I nearly fell out of the saddle, woke me up with a start. Some
people tell me they can sleep quite well in the saddle. Personally, I find it a most uncomfortable, not
to say dangerous,
proceeding.
At last a faint light appeared in the East. It grew rather chilly, and the birds began to chirp. Still the
land was covered in darkness. The ruins of a roofless farm stood out dimly on the crest-line of a hill
in front. An orderly cantered up, and a few muffled orders were given. Silently and rapidly the long
snakelike column coiled itself crescent-shaped round the farm. The light grows brighter; one can see
the grass now, and avoid the ant-bear holes. The whole force presses on, breaking into a trot.
Is the laager just the other side of the farm? or has the wily Boer got wind of our coming, and fled
in the night ?
We top the brow of the hill and strain our eyes in every direction. Not a sign of movement
anywhere. The sweeping contours of the hill are still shrouded in a greyish mist. Suddenly as the
right horn of the crescent sweeps over the next ridge, a splutter of fire makes our blood tingle with
excitement. We are all as fresh as paint now, and the houses too cock up their ears, A few hundred
yards and we top the sky-line. “ There they go ! See the wagons and Cape-carts ! Good heavens,
what a
lot!
Steady there—keep your horses in hand— keep in the ranks, will you? Whoop—Tally-ho —-For’ard—
Away !
The hill-sides were dotted with men, carte, and wagons, streaming off in all directions, like ants
disturbed from their nest. But we were evidently not to have it all our own way, as we hoped at first.
The Boers had got a good start, and their horses were fresh. Our force had not by any means
surrounded theirs. Unfortunately for us the Boers had shifted the position of their laager during the
night; so it happened that the party with whom I chanced to be (about 100 men) were suddenly
greeted by a distinctly warm fire from the opposite hill. The General, seeing we were not strong
enough to charge it, ordered us to halt there, and hold our ground : hoping the rest
of the force would work round and catch the convoy. We dismounted pretty sharply, and opened fire
at about 1000 yards’ range on a mob of Boers who were scuttling about like rabbits, while their pals
on the ridge above peppered us to cover their retreat.
War is a strange and anomalous proceeding; and the veneer of our nineteenth century civilisation
very quickly wears off under fire. In the ordinary course of events we, like you good people, would
have been lying in our bed at home, and a few hours later would get up, put on our Sunday-go-tomeeting clothes, and walk demurely to Church. Instead of which, there we lay, on that fine Sunday
morning, firing away for all we were worth, trying our best to maim, kill, and destroy our fellowcreatures, while they returned the compliment to us. Of course it is very brutalising and demoralising
and all the rest of it, but at the same time it is great fun.
By this time the Boer convoy had disappeared, and our force, which has somehow split up into
numerous small bodies, was scattered to the four winds of heaven. Helios blinked at one another
from the surrounding hills, and the octopus-like force began to gather in its long tentacles. It had
not been a great success—the
total bag being only 34 Boers captured, wounded, and killed, with seven wagons and three Capecarts; while we had one killed and several wounded and prisoners. Had the laager been on the exact
spot where it was expected, we should have bagged the whole commando—about 250 strong. But
the Boers had evidently some idea of an attack, and had shifted camp during the night. Immediately
we started retiring the
Boers galloped back and sniped at our men, not without inflicting some loss.
We camped that night near where the Boer laager had been, and marched back to Ermelo — about
25 miles—the next day. I hope next time we shall be more lucky and bag the whole laager. In my
humble opinion it is only a matter of time and the war (as a big war) will be over by July, and then
for home !
C. B.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
MPUMALANGA & NEIGHBOURING REGIONS - 05
This a public project in progress. Members and participants are requested to send dates, detail
and photographs – or even completed timelines to enable us to compile a comprehensive picture
of the passing times in this region. A regular continuation of the timeline will be published here.
Please help us to correct facts or to provide us with sources for more information.
1845
February, 8
Birth of Abel Erasmus as a Voortrekker child in Natal
July, 05
Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter meets with the Pedi paramount chief Sekwati at
Korenkoppies. An agreement is reached to trade the land between the Leuolo Mountains (in the
vicinity of the present day Maandagshoek) and Swaziland (with the Crocodile river as southern
border present for protection against possible Swazi attacks. The land was regarded as sort of White
occupied buffer zone between the two hostile ethnic groupings – one of Sotho and the other Nguni
origin.
Leuolo Mountains
Julie, 20
Founding of the Voortrekker settlement at Ohrigstad
Remains of the old Voortrekker fortification still to be seen at Ohrigstad
Augustus, 01
First Voortrekker Volksraad or peoples parliament elected at Ohrigstad.
Present day Ohrigstad (2009)
Augustus
More than a thousand people forming about three hundred families settle in the area of Ohrigstad.
Ander
Paramount chief Mswati II becomes the new ruler of the Swazi people.
Swazi warriors
Albasini becomes the first trader from Mozambique to trade with the Voortrekkers in the old eastern
Transvaal.
Voortrekker Jacob de Clerq discovers the hot springs at Badplaas.
FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE/MEER KORRESPONDENSIE
Joao (Juwawa) Albasini
Responses to A short Biography of Joao (Juwawa) Albasini after its first
publication on: www.sabie.co.za
Esma van Schalkwyk says:
March 25, 2014 at 2:53 am
Have enjoyed your article. At present I am writing a novel about Joao Albasini I. My mom was
Christina Helena, nee Albasini, oldest sister of Sannie and Antoinette. If you have any other
information regarding Juwawa, I would be so grateful to glean the knowledge.
John Theunissen says:
I am so pleased to have received your comment. People seem to read the blogs but refrain from
commenting. I gleaned most of my info. from T.V. Bulpin in “Lost Trails of the Transvaal” and “By the
Waters of the Letaba” by A. P. Cartwright. I happened to have known both Sannie van Vuuren and
Antoinette Kop while they lived in Sabie. However I was still new in Sabie and at that time didn’t
appreciate the importance of the history of Juwawa and others to the region. I would be much obliged
if you would let me have whatever info. you may have on the subject in order to broaden my
knowledge.
Graham Purchase says:
August 11, 2014 at 10:08 am
I first heard of J Albasini while part of a guided tour concerning “Breaker Mourant” , the Australian
officer who was tried and shot for the murder of civilians, by the British, during the last part of the 2nd
Boer war. Joao Albasini must be one of the most interesting pioneers of that era, and very deserving
of a book about his life. Would you please contact me once your book is completed and published, so
I can purchase a copy. What a fascinating and important part of history.
Kateka Mdaka says:
April 10, 2014 at 8:44 pm
I also enjoyed reading your article, about Mutsonga-Mchangani. Can you please send me some
information about Headman Njhakanjhaka of Spelekon who was appointed by Albasini. I got his
picture from a book “Life of South African tribe” Thonga,written by Swiss missionary J.Junod.
Mbhazima Mabunda says:
April 22, 2014 at 10:21 am
I also read with keen interest, the history of Joao “Juwawa” Albasini. I am inquisitive though firstly,
about the relationship between Joao Albasini, Njhakanjhaka Mukhari and Bungeni -who apparently
been appointed by Headman Njhakanjhaka. In particular the basis for Bungeni’ s appointment by
Njhakanjhaka. Secondly size of the geographical area initially under the chieftaincy of Bungeni.
Martie Albasini says:
August 31, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Thanks for your interesting article. I am in possession of the swords and shield of Joao Albasini. My
father was Dr Joao Albasini and I’m Antonio Augusto Albasini. My eldest is Joao Albasini. How can I
obtain one of your novels?
John Theunissen says:
September 1, 2014 at 10:10 am
Thanks for your interest & comment !
I haven’t written any novels to date – I only do a few blog articles.
Could you please let me have pics. of the swords & shield for the MHIG (Mpumalanga Historical
Interest Group) newsletter? If you notice – one of the people who have commented on the Albasini
article is writing a novel to do with Joao Albasini.
Mabundza Meshack Sikheto says:
January 12, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Very interesting to read about Albasini, any one with Bungeni history and picture to assist me to
document something about hosi bungeni, I have read about the history as far from Maputo where it
said that the Mabunda were leaders of various clan including njhakanjhaka, but today people are
writing distorted history. The Mabundas were chiefs in Mozambique long before coming here and they
cannot be regarded as headmen to njhakanjhaka, let’s do more research and assist one another.
Leanne Dixon says:
January 25, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Thank you ..I enjoyed reading about Joao. He was my great, great grandfather from my father’s side.
He was Louis Wolf ,grandson of Maria Magdalena Albasini who married Dr Louis Gotlieb Francois
Biccard.
John Theunissen says:
January 26, 2015 at 8:27 am
Hi Leanne, Thanks for your comment !
Please let us have more of the history surrounding Albasini’s family.
Vivian Bannatyne says:
February 6, 2015 at 1:33 pm
Hello Martie & Leanne, My grandmother on my father’s side was Cornelia Gertruida Albasini, and her
father was Antonio Augusto Albasini. Leanne, I am also a great-great grandchild of Joao. I remember
meeting a Colonel? Wolf at the Joao Albasini centenary in 1988. I happened to grow up in one of the
most beautiful places in SA, on a farm adjoining the Albasini Dam.
Jacob Jacobus Lombard says:
February 10, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Hi Vivian
I’m sure we are related somewhere along the lines. I see that you also grew up at the Albasisni Dam
and sure you must have heard of my family the Lombards who owned the farm BEJA.
Dons Lombard had four sons Pierre, Joao, Jacob or Japok as everyone knew him and Christo the
youngest. Joao passed away on the weekend and will probably be buried in the Albasini grave yard
near the dam (of course I cannot confirm this) I do not know what the details are, as I am currently in
Afghanistan. Cristo is now the only surviving member of the four brothers as Pierre passed away in
2013 and Japok my dad in 2003. I am the last of the Jacob Jacobus Lombards and have been
searching all my adult life for the missing journal as it is legally mine, left to me by my dad.
As you will see I am looking for a journal left by Joe Albasini to his daughter Christina who was
married to Dons Lombard. I have it that Sannie or Antoinette took the journal for safe keeping for my
dad after Christina passed away. Do you perhaps have any knowledge of any descendants of Sannie
or Antoinette might be? maybe they can shed some light on the mystery of Joe’s missing Journal.
JJ Lombard Reply:
February 10, 2015 at 9:47 am
I have just heard the sad news of the death of my beloved uncle Joao Lombard. He was the second
eldest son of Dons Lombard who was married to an Albasini descendant, the mother of Esma Van
Schalkwyk. My father was the third son to Dons and Christina, named Japok because he kept
referring to himself as “Japok” rather than Jacob, when he was a little boy. As all of the Lombards I
am extremely proud of my Albasini heritage. There is one mystery though, that bothered my father
until his death in 2003. His mother left him a “journal” from her father Joe Albasini. This was legally
inherited by my dad as all of Dons Lombard’s descendants could testify to. With the passing away of
Joao Lombard the mystery will probably never be solved unless someone on this blog can help. I still
remember sitting on the stoep of uncle Joao’s house on Beja ,overlooking the Albasini Dam, last year
where he confirmed this to me. He also shared the regret that my dad could never get hold of this
book from whomever legally “stole” it from him. Joao was an expert on the Albasini history and always
said that he would have liked to see this book returned to Japok. It was the one earthly thing that
Japok held very dear, but could never have the only thing his mother left him, returned to him.
According to my information over the years, one of Christina’s sisters took this “journal” and never
returned it to Japok, who was the legal owner of this very historic and valuable document. This
bothered him immensely until his dying day. I again inherited this journal from my dad and am legally
the owner of this document. This is not a commercial exploit from me, but an appeal to whomever has
this book to return it to the Lombard family. If anyone has information about this “journal” and where it
is at the moment, I would really appreciate a reply. This is not a commercial gimmick to try and make
money out what must be a very valuable historic document, but merely to see my father’s rightful
property returned to him. I am not married myself and have no children, but will be the last( JJ )Jacob
Jacobus Lombard of Dons and Christina’s bloodline. If I do manage to have this book returned to me I
plan to leave it to the descendants of Esma van Schalkwyk. She also has four sons, just like the four
sons born to Dons Lombard. If I live long enough to see this book returned to the Lombard family, I
promise not to have it published for commercial gain. As my dad this is a highly emotional issue for
me and I am even willing to take legal steps to have my father’s property returned and appeal to the
person or persons in possession of this book to return it to its rightful owners , the Lombard family.
Jacob Jacobus Lombard says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Dons Lombard’s names were also Jakob Jakobus, and I was named after him. Everyone knew him as
“Dons”. This might solve a 70 year old mystery. The journal I referred to was apparently a
handwritten book left by Joe Albasini to his daughter. He was a famous hunter and the journals tells of
his journeys and experiences . I recall being told by Joao and my dad and Esma, a part where Joe
wrote a chapter about a visitor from Europe who wanted to accompany him on one of his hunting
trips. The gent had too much giraffe marrow which lead to hilarious results. Also tales of hunting and
close escapes from famous elephant bulls. Anyway, could be this rings a bell with someone. The
journal is probably still in its original binder, with the famous man’s original handwriting.
Because Japok was such a keen hunter his mother probably decided to leave it to him.
Keep well and greetings from Afghanistan.
John Theunissen says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for the trouble you’ve taken…your comments are lovely – please keep in touch & feed me
with anything else you may come across !
All this material will be sent to the MHIG/Mpumalanga Heritage for publication in their newsletter.
Meer oor die Oosthuizens
Andries Oosthuizen, Nelspruit skryf:
Net om gou te sê: ek is nie van die geweste se Oosthuizens nie. Familieplase was in Vrede se wereld
en ons het later verhuis na Wes Transvaal. Dus is ek ingevoer na die Laeveld.
Een van my neefs het meer inligting oor ons Oosthuizen indien nodig ....
Baie interessante nuusbrief - Dankie.
UPCOMING EVENTS/VOLGENDE BYEENKOMSTE
14 March 2015 – Verlorenkloof lunch with Prof Peter Delius
11 April 2015 – Sabie Branch Line Excursion
25 to 27 April 2015 – Pilgrims Rest Weekend
FROM OUR PHOTO COLLECTION/UIT ONS FOTOALBUMS
Military parade in Barberton during the Anglo Boer War
ON BOOKS/OOR BOEKE:
NEW/FOR SALE/FROM MY COLLECTION/IN SEARCH OF:
NUUT/TE KOOP/UIT MY VERSAMELING/OP SOEK NA:
BOOKS ON HISTORY FOR SALE
Grernfell, Russel (Captain R.N.) – Unconditional Hatred. German war guilt and the future of Europe
(2nd impression 1954/good condition)
R250.00
Ferreira, OJO – Stamvader Ignatius Ferreira en sy naamverwante (1997/new)
R250.00
Kitch, MJ (M.A.) – Capitalism and the Reformation (Uncorrected proof copy/1967)
R100.00
Molloy, Fitzgerald – The Russian Court in the Eighteenth Century Vol II (1905/good condition)
R250.00
Norwich, John Julius – The Normans in the South 1016 -1130 (uncorrected proof copy/1967)
R100.00
Romein, Jan en Annie – De Lagelande bij de Zee. Geillustreerde geschiedenis van het Nederlanse
Volk – Deel 1 van de oudste tijden tot 1560 (soft cover/1961)
R250.00
Romein, Jan en Annie – De Lagelande bij de Zee. Geillustreerde geschiedenis van het Nederlanse
Volk – Deel 3 van 1747 tot 1898 (soft cover/1961)
R250.00
Romein, Jan en Annie – De Lagelande bij de Zee. Geillustreerde geschiedenis van het Nederlanse
Volk – Deel 4 van 1898 tot onze dagen (soft cover/1961)
R250.00
Simmons, Jack (editor) – From Empire to Commonwealth. Principles of British Imperial Government
(good condition)
R250.00
Williams, Fayers Marie – Geslagregister van die Familie Bruwer (1979/RGN no.12/news)
R250.00