Salomon Johannes Cornelis was die seun van Burgert Matthias van der Westhuizen en Johanna Catharina Pienaar.
Anglo Boere-oorlog:
Pietersburg was the northernmost camp in the Transvaal
system, isolated and difficult to service. Although Pietersburg itself was
relatively open, the nearby Zoutpansberg was mountainous and forested,
bordering on Mozambique. The town was only occupied by the British on 8 April
1901 and, initially, the people of this region were housed in Irene camp. It
was only after some thought that it was decided to establish a camp in such a
remote area, in May 1901. This was still, in some respects, frontier territory,
vulnerable to attacks from local African societies who remained unsubdued by
the Boers. While there were some established farmers, much of the wealth of the
area was derived from lumber and mining. Pietersburg was close to malaria
country and the health of the region was notoriously poor so it was inevitable
that the mortality in Pietersburg camp should be high. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
Given the hostilities that had marked Boer relations with the local black societies over many years, the white families felt particularly vulnerable when war broke out. One of the greatest fears that loomed over the women was the threat of armed blacks. While these were often exaggerated, there seems little doubt that farms in the Zoutpansberg were sometimes cleared by black allies of the British. Inevitably, accounts of these ‘atrocities’ crept into the women’s testimonies. The men of the Bushveldt Carbineers were also active in bringing in the women and children. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
George Witton’s distasteful and untruthful account of the Breaker Morant affair illustrates vividly the calibre of the men engaged in this work: ‘During these trips I came into contact with many of the “Boers of the Veldt,” or the Dopper class. I would often take a cup of coffee with them, and as many of them could speak a little English, they would pour out all their troubles to me. The women folk were eager to learn all about the refugee camp, asking would they be provided with food and clothing, and would the “Englisher” give them schoens for the kinder?” This is the class of people that predominates in South Africa, and in my opinion there must be generations of purging, educating, and civilising before they will be capable of taking part in national life. They appear habitually to shun water, and never undress; as they go to bed, so they get up again – dirty, untidy, and unwashed. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
When J.E. Tucker arrived as superintendent in May 1901, he found that there were about 1,000 people housed in the town or living in wagons. By the end of that month there were over 2,000 people, all of whom were living in the camp by August 1901 Many had come from the lowveld and were ill with fever. While there was plenty of water, it had to be brought by wagon to the camp, and there was surprisingly little fuel; coal had to be trucked in. The people were often confused by this disruption in their lives. Tucker complained that ‘it is very difficult to find out from the burghers whom they surrendered to and when. They are also quite ignorant as to the numbers of their farms. Very few women can tell on whose commando their husband was or is’. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
Unfortunately, as families returned from Irene and Pretoria, they brought measles with them and the death rate began to soar in a society already debilitated by malaria. Mortality reached its peak in July 1901. Measles returned briefly in November with new arrivals but, by this time, most of the camp inmates had acquired an immunity to the disease and it disappeared fairly quickly. Malaria also returned in the summer, together with an outbreak of whooping cough which claimed a number of lives. Diarrhoea plagued the younger children, largely because of the pork they bought in the village, the MO believed. Two of the camp staff, including the headmaster, went down with typhoid. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
One of the reasons why the camp officials found the management of the Boer women so difficult was that the camps were profoundly disempowering for the women, who were accustomed running their own homes. Despite the ill health, difficulties with the people and the problems of supply, Pietersburg camp was unproblematic for most of 1901. The camp was well supplied with medical staff, routines ran smoothly and health improved rapidly once the measles epidemic had declined. Food was relatively good and, in August 1901 the camp began to grow its own vegetables. Nevertheless, scurvy threatened during the winter months. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
Op 5 Oktober 1901 word hulle oorgeplaas na die Heidelberg Konsentrasiekamp.
The general impression of Heidelberg was that it was a ‘good’ camp. Gradually the camp was brought into the sort of order that the British esteemed. A camp matron was appointed and a daily inspection of the tents instituted. A bootmaker was employed to make boots for the destitute. Some thirty to forty police were on duty to patrol the camp, generally to keep order and prevent people from entering the camp without permission. Roofed latrines with concrete floors were built. By May 1902 amenities also included two tennis courts, two football fields and a croquet ground, all of which were much appreciated, Allison reported. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
By the end of the year the main problem was a persistent diarrhoea, probably from using contaminated water which had not been boiled. The mothers were also careless about ensuring that their children changed their damp clothing when they had been playing in the rain, giving rise to pneumonia, the MO complained. When the new MO, Dr H. Crook arrived from Johannesburg camp, he found enteric a continuing problem, and he struggled to discover why, since the camp was clean and the water supply seemed pure, although he sent it away for analysis. Fortunately, by the following month the disease was dying out. As sickness diminished, Dr Crook began to consider more active measures for the prevention of disease. Sixty per cent of the children under twelve had never been vaccinated, and this demanded urgent attention, he considered. In the event, vaccination seems never to have taken place. The usual, less threatening, childhood diseases appeared in 1902, including chicken pox and measles, while diphtheria also occurred sporadically. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
Dr Franks was critical of education in Heidelberg camp, primarily because the school was conducted by a Cape Afrikaner, Mr Lingher. The school camps under the supervision of Britishers were far more satisfactory, Franks considered, the best being under a Scot. It would be advisable if all headmasters and at least half the staff were British, he recommended, given the importance of education in the future of South Africa. Whatever Franks’ aspersions on local teachers, Lingher appeared to be hard working and had started a night school for adults, not very large but the men who attended showed ‘the keenest desire to learn’. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
The arrival of the peace led to jollifications. A picnic in a nearby kloof was enjoyed by the children, who were plied with cakes, sweets and mineral waters, while a dinner was held for the old people and camp employees. In the evening they were entertained with a gramophone and the evening concluded with cheers for the King, Allison reported proudly. A few days later a sports day was held while the adults had a dance and the camp staff were given a dinner. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
By July 1902 repatriation was under way, 239 families leaving in that month. The inmates were anxious to get home before the start of the sowing season, Allison reported. Unfortunately the departures slowed in the next couple of months, largely because of the lack of seed and stock, Allison believed. There was ample stock available but the people lacked the resources to buy. By November he was becoming increasingly anxious on their behalf since the sowing season was rapidly passing. Others lacked land and left only after the Land Settlement Board provided them with ground. Since November was the last report, the camp was, presumably, closed during that month. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
Personal Details
|
|
Name:
|
Mr Solomon Johannes Cornelius van der
Westhuizen
|
Born in
camp?
|
No
|
Died in
camp?
|
No
|
Gender:
|
male
|
Race:
|
white
|
Marital
status:
|
married
|
Nationality:
|
Transvaal
|
Registration
as head of family:
|
Yes
|
Unique
ID:
|
38786
|
Camp History
|
|
Name:
|
Pietersburg
RC
|
Age
arrival:
|
65
|
Date
arrival:
|
12/05/1901
|
Date
departure:
|
05/10/1901
|
Reason
departure:
|
transferred
|
Destination:
|
Heidelberg RC
|
Stock
into camp:
|
3 cows, 2 calves
|
Tent
number:
|
470
|
Name:
|
Heidelberg
RC
|
Farm History
|
|
Name:
|
Diepkloof
|
District:
|
Woodbush
|
Notes:
|
no property
|
Status
|
|
Type:
|
surrendered
|
Notes:
|
12/5/1901, Pietersburg
|
Relationships
|
|
Mr Solomon Johannes Cornelius van der Westhuizen
|
|
is the husband of Mrs
Martha Johanna W van der Westhuizen
|
|
is the father of Mr John
Johannes van der Westhuizen
|
|
is the father of Miss
Hester Petronella Adriana Wilhelmina van der Westhuizen
|
|
Sources
|
|
Title:
|
DBC 87
Pietersburg CR
|
Type:
|
Camp register
|
Location:
|
National Archives, Pretoria
|
Reference
No.:
|
DBC 87
|
Notes:
|
p.206
|
Personal Details
|
|
Name:
|
Mrs Martha Johanna W van der Westhuizen
|
Born in
camp?
|
No
|
Died in
camp?
|
No
|
Gender:
|
female
|
Race:
|
white
|
Marital
status:
|
married
|
Nationality:
|
Transvaal
|
Unique
ID:
|
38787
|
Camp History
|
|
Name:
|
Pietersburg
RC
|
Age
arrival:
|
54
|
Date
arrival:
|
12/05/1901
|
Date
departure:
|
05/10/1901
|
Reason
departure:
|
transferred
|
Destination:
|
Heidelberg RC
|
Farm History
|
|
Name:
|
Diepkloof
|
District:
|
Woodbush
|
Relationships
|
|
Mrs Martha Johanna W van der Westhuizen
|
|
is the wife of Mr
Solomon Johannes Cornelius van der Westhuizen
|
|
Sources
|
|
Title:
|
DBC 87 Pietersburg
CR
|
Type:
|
Camp register
|
Location:
|
National Archives, Pretoria
|
Reference
No.:
|
DBC 87
|
Notes:
|
p.206
|
