nostalgia*
F
orest Hills in 2020 is an upmarket western extension of Kloof. But, a hundred years ago, it was a little farming centre on the edge of an African reserve. We know this from the reminiscences of Sheila Gillitt, whose grandparents were among these farmers. Heinrich Harborth was born in Europe and came to South Africa to live with his uncle at New Germany. In 1886, Heinrich married 18-yearold Elise Dinkelman and the couple lived at Nkutu Farm, in present Forest Hills. There was a small community of farmers in the area within a radius of some 10km. They were a Mr Smith, the three Davidson brothers from Pinetown, who had a German mother, the Dinkelmans, and the Harborths. It was a close and happy community.
Farming
ROOTS
ROBIN LAMPLOUGH DELVES INTO FARM LIFE IN FOREST HILLS A CENTURY AGO Each family had four or five children and a couple named Greenley opened a farm school close to the present Link Hills centre. The children walked five or six kilometres to school every day. When the weather was wet, they carried their boots around their necks. After three years the Greenleys left, the Harborths’ eldest daughter, who had just left a school in Pietermaritzburg, took over the farm school at Waterfall. She was just 16. Like many farmers of the day, Heinrich Harborth, to supplement his income, ran a transport business. Then he was awarded a contract to lay a telegraph line from Durban to Ladysmith. As a result, he was away from home for months at a time. Meanwhile,
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ABOVE: Regina
Harborth in a party dress, in 1910. RIGHT: Jane and Cliff Gillitt with baby Sheila, in 1922.
Elise brought up the children and ran the farm, as well as a small trading store which catered for Africans living at nearby Molweni, particularly selling bread freshly baked in the farm oven. On the farm the Harborths kept pigs and poultry, and grew their own vegetables. They ground maize grains between two stones to make mealie meal. In addition, Elise made sausages, butter, cheese, buttermilk and maas. The girls all took turns to
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