Burgert Mattheus Johannes was die seun van Salomon Johannes Cornelis van der Westhuizen en Hester Catharina Drotskie.
Sy naam kom voor in hulle pa se sterfkennis van 1910.
Anglo boere-oorlog:
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/)
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. Two of the camp staff went down with typhoid. The camp water was much safer. This was not necessarily how the frightened camp inmates saw these deaths. 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. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
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/)
In the middle of November 1901. They found a clean, orderly camp of almost 4,000 people and they had few criticisms of any substance. Although there was some scurvy, vegetables could be bought in the store and the school children were issued with lime juice. The school ran well and outside occupations included sewing and singing classes, and a number of workshops with carpentry, bootmaking, brickmaking, a tannery and a blacksmith’s shop. A number of people had constructed ovens of various kinds and one man made horn ornaments, polishing them ‘beautifully’. Another brewed ginger beer. This was one of the best managed camps they had visited, the Ladies concluded and, by this time, their experience was considerable, so they were well able to judge. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Pietersburg/)
Op 29 November 1909 vertrek hulle na Pietersburg.
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| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Mrs Martha Johanna van der Westhuizen |
| Born in camp? | No |
| Died in camp? | No |
| Gender: | female |
| Race: | white |
| Marital status: | married |
| Nationality: | Transvaal |
| Unique ID: | 38791 |
| Camp History | |
| Name: | Pietersburg RC |
| Age arrival: | 37 |
| Date arrival: | 07/05/1901 |
| Date departure: | 29/11/1901 |
| Reason departure: | Gone into town on rations |
| Destination: | Pietersburg |
| Tent number: | 472 |
| Name: | Pietersburg RC |
| Age arrival: | 33 |
| Date arrival: | 18/02/1902 |
| Tent number: | 73 |
| Farm History | |
| Name: | Diepkloof |
| District: | Buffelsberg |
| Relationships | |
| Mrs Martha Johanna van der Westhuizen | |
| is the wife of Mr Bert Martinus Johannes van der Westhuizen (Beet) | |
| Sources | |
| Title: | DBC 87 Pietersburg CR |
| Type: | Camp register |
| Location: | National Archives, Pretoria |
| Reference No.: | DBC 87 |
| Notes: | p.206 |
| Title: | DBC 89 Pietersburg CR |
| Type: | Camp register |
| Location: | National Archives, Pretoria |
| Reference No.: | DBC 89 |
| Dates: | 18/2/1902; 18/2/1902 |
| Notes: | p.9 |
League of Veterans
Surname | van der Westhuizen |
Name | Burt Matheas Joh. |
Date Birth | 4.6.1862 |
Residence | Munnik |
Name Last Officer | Offisiere Alberts en Buhrman |
Weapon | Junie 1902 |
When Killed | |
Widow Veteran | Mevr die Wed. Martha Johanna Sofia van der Westhuizen * Pretorius |
Branch | Pietersburg |
Notes | |
Ref ID | 6794 |
