Nongqai Vol 13 No 8C - Ystervroue in ons Geskiedenis by Hennie Heymans, Nongqai Publications

PUBLISHER | UITGEWER

Contents PUBLISHER | UITGEWER .............................................................................................................. 2 NONGQAI: OORSPRONG & OOGMERKE ..................................................................................... 4 NONGQAI: ROOTS & GOALS......................................................................................................... 5 “WAG OP DIE HERE” ...................................................................................................................... 6 Pastoor Koot Swanepoel .............................................................................................................. 6 VOORWOORD | FOREWORD ........................................................................................................ 7 Sarie van Niekerk Redakteur Vroue Nongqai .............................................................................. 7 VOORBLAD | FRONT COVER ........................................................................................................ 9 Mevrou Tibbie Steyn: Vrijstaat Republiek ..................................................................................... 9 BEYERS: Mathilda (Anglo Boer War) ............................................................................................ 10 BOTHA: Annie (Anglo Boer War) ................................................................................................... 11 BRANDT, Johanna (Anglo Boer War) ............................................................................................ 15 CRONJE, Mrs Hester (Anglo Boer War) ........................................................................................ 20 Eloff, Mrs SP (nee Jacobsz) (Anglo Boer War) .............................................................................. 22 •

Sarel Eloff: Wikipedia ........................................................................................................... 24

FLECK, Mynie (Anglo Boer War) ................................................................................................... 27 HOBHOUSE, Emily (Anglo Boet War) ........................................................................................... 33 JOUBERT, Hendrina wife of Gen Piet Joubert (Anglo Boer War) .................................................. 40 MAXEKE, Charlotte (ANC)............................................................................................................. 43 •

Charlotte Maxeke ................................................................................................................. 44

MOLTENO, ME ‘Betty’ ................................................................................................................... 50 •

Elizabeth Maria Molteno: Wikipedia ..................................................................................... 50

HERTZOG, WJ ''Mynie'' (nee Neethling) wife of Gen JMB Hertzog (ABW) ................................... 55 RAAL, Sarah (ABW) ...................................................................................................................... 56 SCHREINER, Olive ........................................................................................................................ 59 SMUTS, Issie (Nee Krige) wife of Gen JC Smuts (ABW) ............................................................... 66 STEENKAMP, Kotie ....................................................................................................................... 68 STEYN, Tibbie (Wife of Pres MT Steyn) ........................................................................................ 70 •

Rachel Isabella Steyn: Wikipedia ......................................................................................... 72

NONGQAI TRUST | IT 002701/2018(T)......................................................................................... 77 THANK YOU! | DANKIE! ................................................................................................................ 78 BOOKS | BOEKE ........................................................................................................................... 80 SLOT | END ................................................................................................................................... 81

NONGQAI: OORSPRONG & OOGMERKE

NONGQAI: ROOTS & GOALS

“WAG OP DIE HERE” Pastoor Koot Swanepoel “Wag op die Here” Psalm 5: verse 2 & 3 “O Here, luister na my woorde, let op my versugting. Gee ag op die stem van my hulpgeroep, my Koning en my God, want tot U bid ek. In die môre, Here, sal U my stem hoor; in die môre sal ek dit aan U voorlê en afwag.” Dit is goed om die dag met God te begin deur Sy Woord te lees en tot Hom te bid. Dit moet vir ons ‘n gewoonte wees wat ons elke dag beoefen. Ons moet ook leer om nie net tot God te bid nie, maar ook om te wag dat Hy met ons sal praat. Hy doen dit deur Sy Woord en baie keer deur Sy Gees om tot ons diepste deel te praat. Ons moet luister na ons liggaam, maar ons moet ook luister na ons gees. Hoe meer ons luister na ons liggaam hoe meer sal ons gesond word, en hoe meer ons luister na ons gees, hoe meer sal ons geestelik gesond word en hoor wat God vir ons wil sê. Dawid stel dit ook so mooi in Psalm 27:14 “Wag op die Here! Wees sterk en laat jou hart sterk wees! Ja, wag op die Here!” Ons is so geneig om alles vinnig in die hande te kry. As ek net dink wat ons alles kan bekom deur die Internet, en deur die foon te gebruik om iets te bestel. Moenie dieselfde wil doen as jy tyd moet neem om op God te wag nie. Sy gedagtes is in elk geval nie ons gedagtes nie, en Sy tyd is verseker nie ons tyd nie. Dit neem dissipline en geduld om op God te wag. In Jesaja 28:16 staan geskrywe: “Hy wat glo, sal nie haastig wees nie.”

VOORWOORD | FOREWORD

Sarie van Niekerk Redakteur Vroue Nongqai Dit is alweer Augustusmaand, die koudste maand van die jaar maar ons is ook in die wonderlike posisie om hierdie maand so baie van ons land se vroue te eer en te gedenk wat deur die jare, ja so ver terug as die Anglo-Boere Oorlog, vasgestaan het in hul geloof en ons land gedien het soos nie veel ander dit gedoen het nie. Voor ek verder gaan wil ek darem net eers baie dankie se aan Jennifer Bosch wat geweldig moeite gedoen het om vir ons navorsing te doen oor ons heldinne wie se name in ons land se geskiedenis verewig is en nog vir baie, baie jare in ons geskiedenis verewig sal wees. Dankie vir inligting wat ons in hierdie uitgawe kan bespreek. Vir baie van die jonger geslag is baie van die name wat ons in hierdie spesiale uitgawe gaan bespreek waarskynlik totaal onbekend wees. As dit die geval is, doen gerus julle eie navorsing, daar is nog baie ander vroue wat ons geskiedenis nooit sal vergeet nie Een van die eerste name, wat ek dink regtig aan almal bekend is, maak nie saak hoe oud of jonk julle is nie, is Charlotte Maxeke. Behalwe vir die feit dat sy ‘n groot aktivis was vir vroue regte in Suid-Afrika, was sy ook die eerste swartvrou wat ‘n graad in Suid-Afrika behaal het. Sy was verder ook die eerste swartvrou wat as maatskaplikewerker opgelei is. Sy was as maatskaplikewerker by die Johannesburgse magistraatskantoor (landdroskantoor) aangestel is in hul afdeling vir die regte van die jeug. Sy het ook verder naam gemaak deurdat sy ‘n afvaardiging na die destydse eerste minister, genl .Louis Botha gelei het om met hom te gaan gesels oor die destydse paswette. Vandag is ‘n hospitaal na haar vernoem. Dan kyk ons ook na Elizabeth Maria Molteno, ‘n groot aktivis vir burgerlike- en vroue regte in ons land. Ons dink die maand verder aan mense soos Olive Schneider, bekende skrywer en ook skilder. Skilders van vandag poog steeds om haar werk te bestudeer vir inspirasie vir hul eie werk. Ons kan seker nie eer bring aan vroue in Suid-Afrika sonder om ondermeer ook te dink aan Issie Smuts, die vrou van die Boeregeneraal, genl. Jan Smuts nie. Die latere eerste minister van Suid-Afrika nie. 7

Kom ons dink ook aan al die vroue soos Nonnie de la Rey, vrou van genl. Koos de la Rey. Haar deursettingsvermoë gedurende die oorlog het respek by vriend en vyand afgedwing. Van Desember 1900 tot aan die einde van die oorlog in Mei 1902 het sy, met ses van haar kinders en drie getroue werkers in die veld oorleef. Nonnie de la Rey het 12 kinders gehad waarvan sy gedurende die oorlog ses begrawe het. Ons kan ook nog dink aand Anna Van Rensburg se ervarings gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog. Sy het ‘n jaar voor die uitbreek van die Anglo-Boereoorlog van Wolmaransstad na haar oom se plaas in die Bethlehem distrik getrek, omdat hul beeste weens die runderpes gevrek het. Hulle het net weer ‘n begin gemaak toe die oorlog uitgebreek het. (Die inligting oor die bogenoemde drie dames kom uit Die Oorlog Kom Huis Toe. Vroue en gesinne in die Anglo-Boereoorlog. Deur Albert Grundlingh en Bill Nasson) Ek dink as ons na ons hedendaagse geskiedenis toe beweeg, kan ons onmiddellik dink aan een van die grootste vroue baanbrekers wat die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie opgelewer het. Ek praat van ons eie brig. Duveen Botha wat as die eerste bevelvoerder van die Vrouepolisie ‘n regte pionier geword het. Ek dink ons kan ook in dieselfde asem praat van iemand soos prof. Thuli Madonsela. Die vrou wat as adv. Thuli Madonsela vir haar ‘n plek in ons geskiedenis oopgetrap het as die eerste Openbare Beskermer in Suid-Afrika. Dit is haar goeie werk wat die begin was van die oopsteek van die sweer van staatskaping, toe sy in een van haar laaste ondersoeke die rokie sien trek en aanbeveel het dat daar ‘n kommissie van ondersoek na staatskaping gehou word. ‘n Sweer wat toe in ‘n ondersoek van drie jaar behoorlik oopgebars het. Aan almal van die dames wat hierdie Nongqai gaan lees, ‘n wonderlike Vrouemaand vir julle almal. Doen gerus bietjie moeite om meer oor ons land se pioniersvroue te gaan oplees. Pas julle self op, bly warm en gesond tot ‘n volgende keer groete aan julle almal. Sarie van Niekerk.

VOORBLAD | FRONT COVER

Mevrou Tibbie Steyn: Vrijstaat Republiek

BEYERS: Mathilda (Anglo Boer War)

Mathilda and Christiaan on their wedding day

General Beyers and his wife Mathilda Friedriche Adelheid Mathilda König was born on 18th December 1870 in Victoria West, Cape of Good Hope. On the 6 August 1895 she married Christiaan Frederik Beyers. Mathilda König, could speak 4 languages – English, Afrikaans, French and German. Mathilda passed away on the 26th of March 1938 in Pretoria.

BOTHA: Annie (Anglo Boer War)

Annie and Louis Botha when Louis was Prime Minister

BRANDT, Johanna (Anglo Boer War)

Johanna and Louis Ernst Brandt's engagement photo - up.ac.za

CRONJE, Mrs Hester (Anglo Boer War)

General Piet Cronje & Mrs Cronje: POWs on St Helena Island 20

Eloff, Mrs SP (nee Jacobsz) (Anglo Boer War)

Cmdt Sarel Eloff - Pres Kruger's grandson, and left Pres Kruger’s daughters

• Sarel Eloff: Wikipedia in Wikipedia, die vrye ensiklopedie

Kmdt. Sarel Eloff tydens die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog. 24

Kmdt. Sarel Johannes Eloff (Rustenburg, Transvaal, 18 Augustus 1870 [volgens prof. P.J. Nienaber 1863] – Middelburg, Transvaal, 17 Maart 1944) was ’n onverskrokke Boere-kommandant van die ZAR en ’n kleinseun van pres. Paul Kruger en sy tweede vrou, Gezina. Van hom sou Nienaber ná sy dood skryf: “Sy openbare lewe was gekenmerk deur 'n blanke opregtheid en 'n innige liefde vir sy land en volk. Hy was 'n man wat in eenvoud sy God, sy volk en sy land gedien het. In die dae van die Transvaalse Republiek het hy 'n belangrike rol gespeel.” Herkoms Eloff was die oudste kind van Frederik Christoffel (Ryk Freek of Frikkie) Eloff van Pretoria, na wie die voorstad Eloffsdal genoem is, en sy vrou, Elsje Francina Kruger, tweede dogter van pres. Paul Kruger. Dié egpaar was gesiene inwoners en vooraanstaande lidmate van die Gereformeerde kerk Pretoria. Sy oom Jan was die tweede mynkommissaris van die Witwatersrand na wie meer as 10 strate in en om Johannesburg genoem is, onder meer Eloffstraat in die middestad. Sarel se suster Elsje Francina was getroud met dr. Herman van Broekhuizen, Nettie was getroud met Manie Bredell en sy broer Stephanus Johannes Paulus was 'n beeldhouer. Die Jameson-inval

'n Onbekende 2de luitenant en kmdt. Sarel Eloff (regs). As jong man het hy hom by die “Zarps” in Pretoria aangesluit en vinnig opgang gemaak vanweë sy besonder aangename geaardheid, bekwaamheid, flinkheid en ywer. Reeds in 1894 is hy tot luitenant bevorder en in bevel van die Krugersdorpse polisie geplaas. Met die Jameson-inval in Desember 1895 en Januarie 1896 het hy hom onderskei deur met nege man 'n waaghalsige verkenningstog uit te voer om die sterkte van die invallers en hul planne vas te stel. Hy het dr. L.S. Jameson se mag naby Boons ontmoet, is gevange geneem en ontwapen, maar later vrygelaat op voorwaarde dat hy die invallers op hul tog na Johannesburg 'n voorsprong van twee uur waarborg. Nadat hy die ooreenkoms nagekom het, het hy te perd deur die nag gejaag om burgeroffisiere en kommando's tot aan die Elandsrivier by Rustenburg te waarsku en het hy Krugersdorp nog lank voor die vyand bereik. Sy vinnige optrede het baie daartoe bygedra dat Jameson betyds voorgekeer en tot oorgawe gedwing is by Doornkop op 1 Januarie 1896. In opdrag van die regering begelei hy Jameson en sy offisiere van Krugersdorp na Pretoria. Die Driejarige Oorlog In 1899 is hy bevorder tot kaptein en eerste bevelvoerder van die pas voltooide Johannesburgse fort en met die uitbreek van die Tweede Anglo-Boereoorlog op 11 Oktober 1899 is hy saam met Freiherr A. von Dalwig onder kmdt. S.P. Grobler van die polisie ingesluit by die kommando van waarnemende generaal H..C.J. van Rensburg, wat die noordelike en noordwestelike grens van die ZAR moes beskerm. Hy is daar in bevel van die kanonne geplaas en het 'n belangrike aandeel in die terugdrywing van die Britse magte in die Tuli-gebied gehad. Daarna is hy na Derdepoort aan die Groot Marico-rivier verskuif, waar vyandelike swart stamme van oorkant die grens die polisiekantoor afgebrand en wit burgerlikes vermoor het. In Desember het hy hom verder in die gevegte teen hierdie swart aanvallers 25

onderskei deur hulle op die vlug te dryf en hul voorpos, Sekwaanstat, te vernietig. Omdat die stryd aan hierdie gevegsfront vol-gens Eloff nie op meer energieke en offensiewe wyse gevoer is nie, het hy versoek om na 'n meer aktiewe gevegsterrein oorgeplaas te word. Die Beleg van Mafeking In April 1900 is hy met die rang van kommandant na genl. J.P. Snyman gestuur om hom in die beleg van Mafeking by te staan. As 'n man wat 'n militêre opleiding geniet het, kon hy hom geensins vereenselwig met die trae wyse waarop Snyman die beleg gevoer het nie en ook hier het hy die houding van die Boerebevel veels te selfvoldaan gevind. Terwyl die Britte kragtige en finale pogings aangewend het om Mafeking na 'n maande lange beleg te ontset en Snyman se optrede onseker gebly het, het kmdt. Eloff aangebied om die beleërde dorp langs 'n bepaalde roete wat hy as die sleutelweg beskou het, aan te val en binne te dring sodat die generaal vanuit die teenoorgestelde kant op 'n gegewe teken die finale aanslag kon doen. Saam met Snyman het hy dié gevaarlike taak beplan. In die nag van 11 Mei 1900 het hy met 300 uitgelese man, onder wie talle Duitse en Franse vrywilligers, op stoutmoedige en skitterende wyse 'n verrassingsaanval op die dorp uitgevoer. Hy het aanvanklik sukses behaal en deur die vyandelike verskansings gedring tot digby R.S.S. BadenPowell se hoofkwartier. Maar weens ’n gebrek aan die beloofde ondersteuning van die kant van ander Boere-afdelings is sy vordering gestuit. Hy behou wel sy stellings onder hewige geweervuur die hele dag deur, maar teen die aand van 12 Mei het hy besef dat hy in die steek gelaat is en gee met byna een derde van sy manskappe aan die vyand oor nadat die Britte besef het hoe klein sy mag is en hom en sy vrywilligers omsingel het. Krygsgevangene Tot met die ontsetting van Mafeking op 17 Mei 1900 het Baden-Powell hom saam met sy manne aangehou en daarna is hy as Boerekrygsgevangene na Deadwood-kamp op die eiland Sint Helena verban. Hier het sy medekrygsgevangenes en die kampowerheid hom as gewilde leier aanvaar en was hy aan almal bekend as 'n onverskrokke waaghals. Hy het twee maal daarin geslaag om uit die fort en kamp te ontsnap, maar het hom weer oorgegee omdat hy nie van die eiland kon wegkom nie. Sy lewe ná die oorlog Ná die vredesluiting op 31 Mei 1902 het Eloff na Transvaal teruggekeer en hom saam met sy vrou naby Middelburg gevestig, waar hy hom tot sy dood op die boerdery toegelê het. Hy was eenmaal kandidaat van die Nasionale Party, maar sonder welslae. Hy is in 1894 in Pretoria met Stefina Petronella Jacobsz getroud en uit dié huwelik is vier seuns en ’n dogter gebore. Bronne (af) Krüger, prof. D.W. en Beyers, C.J. (hoofred.) Suid-Afrikaanse Biografiese Woordeboek Deel III. Kaapstad: Tafelberg-Uitgewers, 1977. (af) Nienaber, P.J. 1947. Afrikaanse Biografiese Woordeboek, deel I. Johannesburg: L. & S. Boeken Kunssentrum.

FLECK, Mynie (Anglo Boer War)

Mynie Fleck...Friend and welfare worker, assisting the Boer refugees in the concentration camp of Bloemfontein - Nico Moolman.

A group of pro-Boer Bloemfontein women who provided aid to the concentration camp inmates. Free State Archives Repository, VA 385

Free State girls - Michelle Blignault, Ivy Blok (Judge Blok’s wife), Mynie Fleck and Annie Wessels from Winburg - N Moolman. 28

Home of the Fleck Family, Kellner Street, Bloemfontein, 1902

Mynie in the group - post war Free State women's cricket team.

Mynie Fleck, an elegant Bloemfontein rose of 1899 - confidant of Emily Hobhouse and Tibbie Steyn.

Mynie Fleck asking for pigeons to be released at interment of Emily Hobhouse’s ashes

HOBHOUSE, Emily (Anglo Boet War)

Emily as a teenager 33

Emily - home industries 1 - Bloemfontein Museum

Emily - home industries 2 - Bloemfontein Museum

Emily - home industries 3 - Bloemfontein Museum 36

Some of the students and tutors at the Philippolis school set up by Emily Hobhouse

Spinning school – Pietersburg

Emily Hobhouse - National Portrait Gallery 38

Last photo of Emily before she died

JOUBERT, Hendrina wife of Gen Piet Joubert (Anglo Boer War)

Hendrina Susanna Johanna Joubert (1830-1916) She was barely six years old when she and her grandparents went on the Great Trek to Natal, because her mother died shortly after her birth. She survived the nightmares of Bloukrans and Weenen when the Zulu impis streamed through the sleeping Trekker camps. When the English also came to plant their flag in this new land, she was again with her people in the armoury, now north across the Vaal River, where they finally found a home. But freedom must be cherished and affirmed every day, especially if your country is a small state. Shortly after her wedding, her husband, Piet Joubert is commandeered against a rebellious native tribe. Hendrina Joubert knows where her duty is, because there are no ambulances and nurses for the wounded. In the absence of her husband Piet, who is with the Freedom Deputation of the Triumvirate away at England, she still supports her husband. Hendrina, with her young son, ‘rescue’ the small cache of guns her husband had hid in their attic and transports them to the Free State. A year later, they were used by Transvaalers in their fight against the English in the First War of Independence. (Extracted and loosely translated from - gelofteland.org)

MAXEKE, Charlotte (ANC)

• Charlotte Maxeke From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Charlotte Makgomo Maxeke OM RRC DStJ

A young Charlotte Maxeke Born

7 April 1871

Died

16 October 1939 (aged 68)

Nationality

South African

Charlotte Makgomo (née Mannya) Maxeke (7 April 1871[1] – 16 October 1939) was a South African religious leader, social and political activist; she was the first black woman to graduate with a university degree in South Africa with a B.Sc from Wilberforce University Ohio in 1903, as well as the first black African woman to graduate from an American university. [2] Early life Charlotte Makgomo (née Mannya) Maxeke was born in Ga-Ramokgopa, Limpopo on 7 April 1871 and grew up in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape. She was the daughter of John Kgope Mannya, the son of headman Modidima Mannya of the Batlokwa people, under Chief Mamafa Ramokgopa and Anna Manci, a Xhosa woman from Fort Beaufort.[3] Mannya's father was a roads foreman and Presbyterian lay preacher, and her mother a teacher.[4] Mannya's grandfather served as a key adviser to the King of the Basothos.[2] Soon after her birth, Mannya's family moved to Fort Beaufort, where her father had gained employment at a road construction company.[3] Details about Mannya's siblings are unclear, however, she had a sister known as Katie, who was born in Fort Beaufort.[5] Mannya's date of birth is in dispute, with possible dates ranging from 1871, 1872 to 1874. The Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa, Naledi Pandor, took special interest in this detail of Charlotte Maxeke's life, however, no records were found. The date in 1871 is also often accepted as it does not conflict with the age of her younger sister Katie who was born in 1873. [6] At age 8, she began her primary school classes at a missionary school taught by the Reverend Isaac Wauchope [xh] in Uitenhage. She excelled in Dutch and English, mathematics and music. She spent long hours tutoring her less skilled classmates, often with great success. Reverend Wauchope credited Mannya with much of his teaching success particularly with regard to languages. Mannya's musical prowess was visible at a young age. Describing Charlotte's singing Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya, a minister of the United Church and family friend said: "She had the voice of an angel in heaven."[7] From Uitenhage, Charlotte moved to Port Elizabeth to study at the Edward Memorial School under Headmaster Paul Xiniwe. Charlotte excelled and completed her secondary school education in 44

record time, achieving the highest possible grades. In 1885, after the discovery of diamonds, Charlotte moved to Kimberley with her family.[7] Foreign travel After arriving in Kimberley in 1885, Charlotte began teaching fundamentals of indigenous languages, to expatriates and basic English to African "boss-boys". Charlotte and her sister Katie joined the African Jubilee Choir in 1891. Her talent attracted the attention of Mr. K. V. Bam, a local choir master who was organizing an African choir to tour Europe. Charlotte's rousing success after her first solo performance in Kimberley Town Hall immediately resulted in her appointment to the Europe-bound choir operation, which was taken over from Bam by a European. The group left Kimberley in early 1896 and sang to numerous audiences in major cities of Europe. Command royal performances, including one at Queen Victoria's 1897 Jubilee at London's Royal Albert Hall, added to their mounting prestige. According to the African Feminist Forum, the two women were treated like novelties, which made them uncomfortable.[8] At the conclusion of the European tour, the choir toured North America. The choir managed to sell out venues in Canada and the United States.[7] During the choir's tour of the United States, the group was abandoned by their escort in Cleveland. Bishop Daniel A. Payne, of the African Methodist Church (AME) in Ohio, a former missionary in the Cape, organized the churchgoers to provide for the abandoned troupe's continued stay in America. Although the choir wished to attend Howard University, they were made to settle for a church scholarship to Wilberforce University, the AME Church University in Xenia, Ohio, in US. Mannya accepted the offer. At the university, she was taught under W.E.B Du Bois, a major PanAfricanist.[7] After obtaining her B.sc degree from the Wilberforce University in 1903, she became the first black South African woman to earn a degree.[9] It was at Wilberforce that Mannya met her future husband, Dr. Marshall Maxeke, a Xhosa born on 1 November 1874 at Middledrift.[7] The couple lost a child prior to their marriage, and did not have any children thereafter.[10] The couple married in 1903. Political activism and later life Charlotte became politically active while in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she played a part in bringing to South Africa. While in the AME Church, Maxeke was heavily involved in teaching and preaching the Gospel and advocating education for Africans of South Africa. [11] The church later elected her president of the Women's Missionary Society. Shortly after her return to South Africa in 1902, Maxeke began her involvement in anti-colonial politics. She, along with two other individuals from Transvaal, attended an early South African Native National Congress meeting, and was one of the few women present. [12] She was notably the first South African Social worker, appointed as Welfare Officer to the Johannesburg Magisterial Court and involved in juvenile work.[13] Maxeke attended the formal launch of the South African Native National Congress in Bloemfontein in 1912. Maxeke also became active in movements against pass laws through her political activities. During the Bloemfontein anti-pass campaign, Maxeke served as an impetus towards eventual protest by organizing women against the pass laws.[14] Many of Maxeke's concerns were related to social issues as well as ones that concerned the Church. Charlotte wrote about the political as well as social issues that women face in isiXhosa. In the writing piece "Umteteli wa Banti" she wrote about these specific issues. Due to her activity in anti-pass laws demonstrations, Maxeke was led to founding the Bantu Women's League (BWL) which later became part of the African National Congress Women's League, in 1918.[15] The BWL under Maxeke was a grassroots movement that served as a manner of taking up grievances from a largely poor and rural base.[12] Maxeke's BWL also demanded better working conditions for women farm workers, however these were largely ignored by the white authorities. Furthermore, Maxeke led a delegation to the then South African Prime Minister, Louis Botha, to discuss the issue of passes for women. These discussions resulted in a 45

protest against passes for women the following year. Maxeke and an army of 700 women marched to the Bloemfontein City Council, where they burned their passes.[16] She addressed an organisation for the voting rights of women called Women's Reform Club in Pretoria and further joined the council of Europeans and Bantu's. Maxeke was elected as the president of the Women's missionary society. Maxeke participated with protests related to low wages at Witwatersrand and eventually joined the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union in 1920. Maxeke’s leadership skills led her to be call by the South African Ministry of Education to testify before several government commissions in Johannesburg on matters concerning African education— a first for any African of any gender.[8] She continued to be involved in many multiracial groups fighting against the Apartheid System and for women's rights. Maxeke's husband, Marshall Maxeke, passed away in 1928. The same year Maxeke set up an employment agency for Africans in Johannesburg and also would begin service as a juvenile parole officer.[3][17] Maxeke remained somewhat active in South African politics until her death, serving as a leader of the ANC in the 1930s.[12] Maxeke was also instrumental in the foundation of the National Council of African Women, which served as a way of protecting the welfare of Africans within South Africa.[18][12] Maxeke died in 1939 in Johannesburg at the age of 68.[7] Legacy Maxeke's name has been given to the former "Johannesburg General Hospital" which is now known as the "Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital". The South African Navy submarine SAS Charlotte Maxeke is named after her.[19] Maxeke is often honoured as the "Mother of Black Freedom in South Africa". There is an ANC nursery school named after Charlotte Maxeke.[17] A statue of her stands in Pretoria’s Garden of Remembrance, in South Africa.[11] At an event in 2015 dedicated to International Women's Day at Kliptown's Walter Sisulu Square, the Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC plans to convert Maxeke's home into a museum and interpretation centre.[20] German engineers referred to 3 South African submarines as "heroine class". These submarines were named after three powerful South African women namely, S101 (named SAS Manthatisi, after a female warrior of the Chief of the Batlokwa tribe), S102 (named after Charlotte Maxeke) and S103 (named after the South African rain queen as SAS Queen Modjadji) [6] The ANC also hosts an annual Charlotte Maxeke Memorial Lecture. [21] Beatrice Street in Durban was changed to Charlotte Maxeke Street in her honour.[22][20] Maitland Street in Bloemfontein was renamed Charlotte Maxeke Street in honour of her contribution to South Africa.[22] See also Defiance Campaign https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Maxeke 0n - accessed 16 July 2022

Lovedale College

The African Jubilee Choir 48

The Caling of Katie Makhanya

The choir in Victorian dress

MOLTENO, ME ‘Betty’

Elizabeth Maria Molteno- Civil and Women’s Rights Activist – Cape Town

• Elizabeth Maria Molteno: Wikipedia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Elizabeth Maria Molteno

Born

24 September 1852 Beaufort West, Cape Colony

Died

25 August 1927 (aged 74) Trevone, United Kingdom

Occupation

Suffragist, civil rights activist

Elizabeth Maria Molteno (24 September 1852 – 25 August 1927), was an early South African British activist for civil and women's rights in South Africa.[1] Early life Elizabeth was born into an influential Cape family of Italian origin. She was the oldest and much beloved daughter of John Molteno, the first Prime Minister of the Cape, and many of her 18 siblings came to hold positions of influence in business and government. She spent her earliest years in the protected surroundings of her family's Claremont estate in Cape Town, where she was educated. Her father travelled frequently, for diplomatic or business reasons, and he often let his older children accompany him on such trips. Consequently, Elizabeth travelled a great deal as a child, especially to Italy and London, and grew up to share her father's interest in politics and current affairs.[2] Fiercely intelligent, with a strong personality and an extraordinary memory, she developed views and habits which were unconventional for a girl in the Victorian era. "Betty", as she preferred to be called, abandoned the fine clothes and material privileges of her youth. She took on a simple lifestyle, rough clothes and vegetarianism, and showed more interest in science and politics, than in marriage and children. In her personal beliefs she claimed to be spiritual but non-religious, and she acquired a firm lifelong belief in the principles of gender and racial equality. After matriculating, she chose not to marry, but to study further at Newnham College, Cambridge.[3][4][5] Educationalist Choosing one of the few careers that were open to women in the 19th century, she became a teacher, and then the principal of the Collegiate School for girls in Port Elizabeth. There she revolutionised the Victorian education system, which was heavily based on rote learning and was restricted to subjects that were deemed appropriate for women. She applied methods of teaching which were advanced and liberal for the time, including what was probably the first system of sex education for girls in the country. She had an ardent lifelong belief in the importance of girls' education, so much so that she refused to draw a salary for her administrative and educational work.[3] Political activism

Emily Hobhouse, the British welfare campaigner and a close friend of Elizabeth Molteno She was openly against the Anglo-Boer War when it began, and for this reason was forced to give up her job. Anti-war activists were generally labelled as "pro-Boer" by their opponents, and were put under great social pressure. The white community of Port Elizabeth was also strongly pro-British and when Miss Molteno refused to stop her protests she was forced to resign, despite a campaign of support from her ex-pupils and colleagues. She moved back to Cape Town in 1899 and became a founding member of the South Africa Conciliation Committee. Here she co-organised a series of mass meetings, attended by thousands, to protest the war and the ethnic divisions it was causing.[6] Miss Molteno had become close friends with Emily Hobhouse and Olive Schreiner and worked with them on humanitarian and anti-war causes both during and after the Boer War. With them, she passionately campaigned for the Boer women and children interned in the British concentration camps and the burning of the Boer farmlands.[7][8] In Port Elizabeth she also made the acquaintance of Alice Greene (aunt of the 51

writer Graham Greene), who was her employee as the vice-principal of the Collegiate School and was also involved in anti-war activism. The two women had very similar views and thereafter maintained a lifelong friendship.[citation needed]

Gandhi and his wife Kasturbha in 1914. After the war, Miss Molteno opposed the radical new political developments in South Africa and left for England. There she met Gandhi in 1909. They became friends, exchanged ideas and regularly corresponded over the next few decades. In London she also became a follower of the suffragette movement, and its more radical leaders such as Christabel Pankhurst.[9] She returned to South Africa in 1912, and became heavily involved in the causes of non-racialism. She was an extremely talented public speaker and this, together with her confidence and social standing, meant that she was greatly in demand to address public meetings on these causes. Throughout her life she was also a writer for a range of British and South African publications. Emily Hobhouse later wrote of her: "Your gift of seeing into the heart of things is so great, and you have control of such exquisite language for expressing moral and spiritual aspects". In addition, her writings drew considerable attention due to their radical (and often anti-imperialistic) language. She remained in close contact with the Gandhis, regularly visiting Mr and Mrs Gandhi at Phoenix Settlement, and moved there to join the satyagraha campaign. She bought a cottage nearby at Ohlanga, as a base for her work to support several movements operating from the area, including the Gandhis, and those of early African statesmen such as John Dube.[10] In speeches given with Gandhi at meetings in Durban she urged Indians to identify with Africa. The Gandhis came to Cape Town in 1914 and Miss Molteno worked to facilitate their meetings with the most powerful political figures in South Africa. She also facilitated their introduction to Emily Hobhouse and the Prime Minister himself, General Botha, who had long ignored Gandhi's requests for an interview but thereafter maintained cordial communications. Gandhi was later to write about Miss Molteno's role as "peacemaker", enabling him to make contact with some of the most powerful figures in the country.[11][12][13] In the following years, she joined a range of campaigns in support of political and land rights for Black South Africans, working with prominent Black leaders such as John Dube (first President General of the ANC) and Sol Plaatje. [14][15][16] A particularly important cause for her was the abuse of prisoners at the hands of the South African police force. While Gandhi himself was in prison, she worked with beaten or abused prisoners and testified at inquests. She lobbied against the neglect that Mrs Gandhi also suffered whilst in prison and, in a particularly severe case, visited the imprisoned and badly beaten "satyagrahi" Soorzai, who had been fatally assaulted for supposedly leading a strike. The man died from his injuries, and 52

Miss Molteno became deeply involved in the (ultimately unsuccessful) legal proceedings concerning his treatment.[17] Elizabeth Molteno was a determined advocate of women's rights, and also became a convert to the movement for women's suffrage. In South Africa she worked with female passive resisters of all races and backgrounds. She was also a regular speaker at the movement's meetings, and expressed the hope that in a future multi-racial South Africa, women would be allowed to play a prominent part.[18][19] When the First World War broke out in 1914, she joined her close friends Emily Hobhouse and Olive Schreiner in wartime England, to work with conscientious objectors. However, the greater part of her work in the United Kingdom was nonetheless for the less high-profile cause of women's rights and representation. When the Russian Revolution erupted a few years later and World War I drew to a close, a great many people initially thought it the beginning of a great "emancipation of humanity". Miss Molteno was no exception, and in 1919 wrote of her hopes for a future when: “…All distinctions of race, gender, religion; all the old shibboleths hitherto in use to keep down the masses, were to give way to wider, broader and deeper conceptions of humanity” [20] She died in 1927 in southern England, and has been since been referred to as possibly “…one of the most influential women in South Africa during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.” [3] and as “One of the most remarkable South African women of her generation.” [20] Nevertheless, her values and causes were so unusually progressive for the era in which she lived, that it was to be decades before they became widely accepted (especially in South Africa), and her role in propagating them was largely forgotten.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Maria_Molteno - accessed 16 July 2022.,

HERTZOG, WJ ''Mynie'' (nee Neethling) wife of Gen JMB Hertzog (ABW)

Left: Wilhelmina Jacoba ''Mynie'' Neethling, right: General & Mrs Hertzog

Gen & Mrs Hertzog at “Groote Schuur”. Right: Gen Smuts, Mrs Hetzog, Mrs Smuts & Gen Hertzog Genl JBM Hertzog met 'n Afrikaanse Bybel wat hom oorhandig is op die dag van die ingebruikneming daarvan, 27 Augustus 1933, voor die Bosman-straat NG kerk, Pretoria

RAAL, Sarah (ABW)

Sarah Raal ‘They cannot punish you if you don’t wish to speak. But as you are now in their hands, just keep very quiet. Personally, I admire your courage, but I am not supposed to say such things to you.’ -Captain Reed, a British Officer, to Sarah Raal. Sarah Raal became a heroine amongst her own people and she became notorious amongst the British. She had a reputation amongst the British defying gender roles and fighting alongside her brothers on commando. She and her family were living on their farm when the war broke out in 1899. Sarah’s four brothers left to join the district commando. A while later, her father left for commando but due to his physical condition, returned to his farm. About a month after his return, the British arrived on the farm and announced they would be camping overnight. The wheat fields, house and yard were plundered. Sarah’s father was questioned about his movements during the previous months, taken captive and he was removed from his farm. Sarah, her mother and younger siblings were without provisions on their farm as the British had taken all the flour, and groceries but left the family a pass to collect two weeks food from Jagersfontein station which was 20 miles away. The pass was in the name of Sarah’s mother and she went off to secure supplies. The younger two siblings went with while Sarah stayed at the farm. By nightfall they had not returned. A few days later the English ‘visited’ the farm again and told Sarah that her mother and younger brother and sister had been taken to a camp. Seven long months passed, and her brothers who were on commando arrived at the farm. Having been betrayed by one of her labourers to the English, she knew that her home and goings-on were being observed. To avoid capture, her brothers left to spend the night at a neighbour’s farm before returning to their commando. Because the brothers had evaded capture the English were angered and sent a letter to Sarah, an order to relocate to Edenburg, with all belongings including livestock. With the help of her labourers, Sarah made her way to Boomplaas where she stayed for 6 months. The Khakis paid her another visit. It was around the same time that the brothers and the English crossed paths and ‘swords’ on Vlakfontein farm. Sarah was taken to camp and began thinking of an escape plan. This was achieved by tricking the guards at the camp gates. Under the pretext of collecting wood for fire in the camp, Sarah and a few friends made good their escape from Springfontein Camp. After her escape, Sarah Raal located and joined her brother’s commando under Commandant Nieuwoudt, taking part in a number of guerrilla engagements. Eventually she was captured in an ambush and taken prisoner until the end of the war. The book she wrote is entitled “Met Die Boere In Die Veld”, was published in 1936. It was republished in 2000 in English, “The Lady who Fought”.

SCHREINER, Olive

Olive Schreiner “There was never a great man who had not a great mother.” -Olive Schreiner She was one of the 1st campaigners for women’s rights, a writer, a feminist and a pacifist. She was totally against the Boer war, British Imperialism and racism. Born in the Wittebergen, (then Cape Colony) Eastern Cape, South Africa on 24th March 1855 to missionary parents who were constantly moving as their faith compelled them. Olive was a bright child and was self-educated but health and the lack of finance prevented her from following her desired career paths of being a doctor or a nurse. She took on governess positions where she could and then later turned to writing. She is best known for her 1883 ‘The Story of an African Farm’ which strongly mirrors her life and philosophies. A free thinker, she rejected her parent’s Christian beliefs and rebelled against the accepted belief and practice of the time that society was strongly patriarchal. She stood for equality and emancipation of women and also birth control. No. 9 Cross Street is one of Cradock's most interesting and attractive old buildings. From 1868 until 1870 Olive and her 3 siblings lived here. Her elder brother Theo was principal of the Government Aided School in Cradock at the time. Her younger brother Will, later succeed Cecil Rhodes as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony. In 1890 she moved to Matjiesfontein in a bid to help relieve her asthma. Because of the prejudice against women, Olive wrote under a pseudonym, Ralph Irons and only revealed her true identity in 1891. She wrote a few political works - Trooper Peter Halkett of Mashonaland (1897), attacked British imperialism and racism in South Africa and championed the causes of the Boers and Black people. She was also very critical of Cecil John Rhodes and his policies. As a result of her convictions, her manuscripts and her house were burnt during the Boer war, and she was interned. At the ripe age of 38, Olive married Samuel Cronwright who was eight years her junior. She had met him near Cradock. He championed her work, writings and even continued editing her letters for publication after her death. He even changed his name to Cronwright-Schreiner. They had a daughter who died one day after birth. Olive died in Wynberg, Cape Town in December 1920 and was buried at Maitland cemetery. The following August, her remains were exhumed and reburied with her baby daughter and her favourite dog on Buffelskop (today a private farm) which is about 25kms from Cradock. Her tomb lies among the rocks, Karree trees and aloes under the Karoo sky which she loved.

Olive aged 14 years

Samuel Cronwright (her husband) with Olive Schreiner next to the Great Fish River

Olive's library in her Cradock home

Schreiner cottage in Matjesfontein

Schreiner house - Cradock

SMUTS, Issie (Nee Krige) wife of Gen JC Smuts (ABW)

STEENKAMP, Kotie

Kotie Steenkamp Kotie and Lammie reunite after the ABW It was reported that large columns of English were approaching from Hoopstad to Boshof. Kotie packed the wagon with everything she could take with her. The cattle were gathered and they started 68

fleeing in the direction of Koekemoersfontein. They arrived at Rietkuil late in the evening, but shortly afterwards fled through the night to Buitendam when the Khakis were spotted. From there they went to Deelpan and then back to Du Plessisdam. After rumours that the English were destroying the furniture on abandoned farms in their search for refugees, the women smashed their furniture in inconspicuous parts of their homes. In the beginning, the furniture was safe, but unfaithful Afrikaners, revealed this secret to the English. Then they simply burned the houses with furniture and all,” writes Kotie Steenkamp. Because there was no such suitable corner room in Du Plessisdam’s house to brick, Kotie and one of her sons, Casper, went to the edges alone under the pretext that they were going to pick mountain bark. In fact, they went looking for a safe place to hide their furniture and other belongings. Koos was instructed that day to graze the sheep in the opposite direction. When everyone at the yard went for a nap, I loaded the dining table in front of the wagon house, some stinkwood chairs that Oupa Steenkamp had made and given to us in 1886, and a zinc suitcase and drove it along the track to the ridge with an open car.” So, several loads of belongings were driven in and Kotie and the family returned each time with a load of mountain bark (bergbas). When everything was driven, Kotie and her children Johanna and Casper carried it out against the ridge and hid it in rock crevices. Furthermore, it was covered with branches. “Many things were also packed away in the attic, such as feather beds, pillows and drums with clothes. The outer leather of the attic was removed and thrown into the long dip under the water. On one of the many flights, the enemy stood on Du Plessis Dam for several days. When they left, Kotie rode there on horseback from Alspan to explore the place. The devastation she found there made an indelible impression on her. Outwardly, the house was not damaged, but all the household items, including three house organs, and all the valuables hidden in the attic, burned next to the house. Five wild horses were shot dead in the calf pen. The dam was full of dead cattle. The water was poisoned and dead frogs floated everywhere. The smell was unbearable and soon she went to the Leeuplaat where her belongings were hidden. Here she still found devastation. Everything except the table and sink case was destroyed. She later found out that a neighbour, who had joined the enemy, was leading the Khakis to her hiding place. Cmdt. Jan Jacobs brought Kotie six more looted cows with calves that she could milk. Meanwhile, they learned that the beloved Cmdr. Piet Erasmus died. From the beginning of August 1901 until about 15 September, 16 columns with about 16,000 soldiers traversed the Boshoff district to destroy everything and the women were told to flee in the direction of the Vet River. After ten days of flight and hiding in the thickets, the Kotie family returned to Du Plessis Dam. However, there were so many families in the house that they temporarily stayed in the red wagon house. After being warned that a strong English horse commando was on its way, Kotie fled again and ended up at the Women’s Camp on Wonder Hill. At Donkerhoek, where Hertzogville is today, Kotie made ink by cooking a kind of auburn flower. She also cooked ink from green mulberries and wrote to Lammie on December 11, 1901. They moved to Spioenkop near Graspan where the English surprised them and Abraham du Plessis (13), who helped her on the farm, and took away the cattle. He was later sent to Bermuda with four other boys captured the same day. After many more experiences and trials, Kotie was reunited with Lammie after the war and, together with the cattle she so faithfully guarded, made a fresh start on Du Plessis Dam. (Google translated from Afrikaans to English- original text= http://onsboeresetrotsegeskiedenis.co.za/new-page-252.htm)

STEYN, Tibbie (Wife of Pres MT Steyn)

Left: Tibbie and her brother Colin while visiting her Grandfather Ds Fraser in Beaufort West, Right: Tibbie at 12 years old.

Tibbie and Pres Steyn 71

• Rachel Isabella Steyn: Wikipedia in Wikipedia, die vrye ensiklopedie Rachel Steyn

Gebore

Rachel Isabella Fraser 5 Maart 1865 72

Philippolis Sterf

3 Januarie 1955 (op 89) Bloemfontein

Eggenoot Pres. M.T. Steyn Kinders

Colin Cecilia Gladys Isabella Emeline Johanna Steyn

Fraser Johanna Evelyn Gordon

Steyn Steyn Steyn Steyn

Handtekening

Rachel Isabella (Tibbie) Steyn (Philippolis, 5 Maart 1865 – Bloemfontein, 3 Januarie 1955) aan Colin McKenzie Fraser en Isabella Gordon Fraser (née Paterson). Sy was ’n SuidAfrikaanse vroueleier en eggenote van die laaste president van die Oranje-Vrystaat, Marthinus Theunis Steyn. Hoewel sy van Skotse herkoms was aan sowel moeders- as vaderskant, het sy haar veral vanaf die Anglo-Boereoorlog ten volle vereenselwig met wat sy self as die "Boerevolk" beskryf het en kry dan ook sodoende die eretitel "volksmoeder".[1] Herkoms

Mev. Steyn, ’n skets van 1905 deur Jan Toorop. Steyn was die dogter van ds. Colin McKenzie Fraser, leraar van die NG gemeente Philippolis van 1863 tot 1907, en ’n kleindogter van ds. Colin Fraser, tweede leraar van die NG gemeente BeaufortWes van 1824 tot 1862. Hy was een van die eerste Skotse predikante wat in die 19de eeu na SuidAfrika gekom het om die tekort aan leraars in die NG Kerk te verlig en goewerneur lord Charles Somerset se poging aan te help om die Hollandse bevolking te verengels. Haar oom was sir John Fraser, voorsitter van die Vrystaatse Volksraad, verloorder in die Vrystaatse presidentsverkiesing van 1896 waarin M.T. Steyn verkies is, en van Uniewording in 1910 tot 1920 ’n senator vir die SuidAfrikaanse Party. Tibbie Steyn was aan sowel moeders- as vaderskant van Skotse herkoms en het in die pastorie op Philippolis grootgeword. Haar lewe lank was sy ’n toegewyde Christen. Opleiding en vroeë lewe Haar skoolopleiding ontvang sy aan die indertydse Damesinstituut, vandag die Hoërskool Eunice, in Bloemfontein. In 1887 trou sy met M.T. Steyn, destyds ’n jong advokaat. Van 1896 was sy die vrou van die man wat die laaste president van die Oranje-Vrystaat sou word. Volgens M.C.E. van 73

Schoor[2] het sy "besondere grasie verleen aan die waardigheid van haar man se hoë amp. Lewenslank is sy besonder hooggeag deur die hele volk, wat na haar opgesien het as die laaste skakel met die heldhaftige verlede, die simbool van wat die edelste en beste is in die Afrikanervrou." Tydens die krisisjare in die aanloop tot die Anglo-Boereoorlog was Tibbie Steyn haar man se getroue bystand. Ná die val van Bloemfontein in 1900 het sy voor die Britse troepe gevlug en ondanks swak gesondheid geweier om na Europa te ontsnap. Later is sy teruggestuur na Bloemfontein waar sy as krygsgevangene ’n voorbeeld gestel het van stille moed, geduld en deursettingsvermoë. Ná die Vrede van Vereeniging het sy haar man na Europa vergesel, waar sy hom getrou versorg het tydens sy langdurige siekte. In 1905 keer hulle terug en gaan woon op Onze Rust, hul plaas buite die Vrystaatse hoofstad. Kinders Hulle kinders was dr. Colin Steyn, ’n politikus, kabinetsminister en regsgeleerde; Hannah, wat getrou het met Everard Fichardt, advokaat en skrywer; Gladys Steyn, wat in 1922 die eerste vroulike advokaat in Suid-Afrika geword het;[3] Isabella (Tibbie), wat getrou het met dr. N.J. van der Merwe, haar pa se biograaf, en ná sy dood dr. C.F. Visser, en wat ’n senator geword het wat die Vrystaat vir die Nasionale Party verteenwoordig het; en Emeline (Emmie), wat getrou het met dr. J.S. du Toit, ’n vooraanstaande oftalmoloog. Ná die Oorlog

Die Steyn-egpaar besoek Versailles kort ná die Anglo-Boereoorlog.

Die Steyn-gesin kom kort na die Anglo-Boereoorlog op die stasie in Bad Reichenhall in Beiere aan.

Die egpaar Steyn in Dordrecht, Nederland, omstreeks 1903. 74

Tibbie Steyn hervat haar openbare loopbaan in 1907 as voorsitter van die pasgestigte vroueliga, die Oranje-Vrouevereniging. Op 16 Desember 1913 onthul sy die Vrouemonument in Bloemfontein namens Emily Hobhouse, wat spesiaal van Engeland af gekom het vir geleentheid, maar te siek was om verder as Beaufort-Wes te reis. Twintig duisend mense het die onthulling bygewoon, onder wie oudpres. M.T. Steyn, wie se gesondheid ook nie meer na wense was nie[4] Ná haar man se dood (28 November 1916) het sy haar toenemend met die strewe van die Afrikaners vereenselwig en op haar eie sagte manier groot invloed uitgeoefen. Uit dankbaarheid vir wat Emily Hobhouse tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog vir die Boerevolk beteken het, het Steyn die leiding geneem om reëlings te tref vir haar aftrede. Sonder Hobhouse se medewete het Steyn in 1921 die bedrag van £2 300 deur middel van halfkroon-kollektelyste ingesamel. Dit is aan Hobhouse gestuur met die uitdruklike versoek dat sy ’n huisie iewers aan die kus van Cornwall, waar sy so graag wou wees, moes koop. Hobhouse se geldnood was sodanig dat sy selfs sonder die basiese moes klaarkom en dit glad nie sou kon oorweeg om ’n huis te koop nie. In ’n bedankingsbrief in Mei 1921 skryf sy haar eerste gedagte was om geen geskenk te aanvaar nie of om dan die geld aan die een of ander openbare saak te skenk. "Maar nadat ek u brief gelees en nogeens gelees het, het ek besluit om u geskenk te aanvaar in dieselfde eenvoudige en liefdevolle wyse waarop dit aan my gestuur is".[5] In 1923 wy Steyn haar daaraan toe om geld in te samel vir die sukkelende Duitse volk en uit dankbaarheid hiervoor ken Heidelberg in 1925 ereburgerskap aan haar toe. In 1938 het sy die fakkel aangesteek by die Van Riebeeck-standbeeld in Kaapstad aan die begin van die Simboliese Ossewatrek na Pretoria, waar die hoeksteen van die Voortrekkermonument gelê sou word. Volgens Van Schoor is die kroon op ’n leeftyd van "waardigheid, selfloosheid, verdraagsaamheid en diens" gespan toe sy in 1948 gekies is om Suid-Afrika te verteenwoordig by die goue jubileum van koningin Wilhelmina van Nederland. Steyn is aan die voet van die Vrouemonument begrawe tydens ’n staatsbegrafnis[6] Boodskap aan gemeente Beaufort-Wes

Die opstal op Onze Rust, die Steyns se plaas buite Bloemfontein. Met die viering van die NG gemeente Beaufort-Wes se 125ste bestaansjaar het Tibbie Steyn ’n spesiale boodskap vir die gemeente se gedenkboek geskryf: As kleinkind van ds. Colin Fraser, sr., en in herinnering aan die aangename besoeke van my kinderjare in die groot familiekring daar deurgebring, verheug dit my dat ek ook ’n paar woorde vir die Feesalbum van die gemeente Beaufort-Wes kan skrywe. Wat ’n voorreg om nog steeds terug te mag dink aan die bediening van Gods Woord, wat ons Boerevolk destyds tot sulke treffende feesdae opgeroep het. Ons Boerenasie was groot in sy eenvoud, gasvryheid en godsdiens. 75

Van harte wens ek die gemeente Beaufort-Wes geluk met die viering van sy honderd-vyf-entwintigste jubileum, en saam met die gemeente hef ek my oë op na die berge vanwaar ons hulp kom. Ons kan nie anders as met beklemde gemoed die tydgees gadeslaan nie. Dit dreig om Gods Woord en godsdiens uit ons volkslewe te verdring. Mag die gelowige gebede ook in hierdie dae kragtig wees, sodat "Hy weer Sy wette in ons verstand sal gee en dit op ons harte sal skrywe". Onze Rust, 18 Julie 1944 Biografieë

Mev. Steyn in 1944. Tibbie Steyn het nie haar eie lewensverhaal neergeskryf nie, maar met die jare het daar al heelwat boeke deels en geheel en al oor haar lewe die lig gesien. Anna de Villiers beskryf in haar Vrouegalery (Nasionale Boekhandel, 1962) die lewe en werk van ’n aantal groot vroue in SuidAfrika, onder meer Maria van Riebeeck, lady Anne Barnard, Marie Koopmans-De Wet, Olive Schreiner, Emily Hobhouse en Rachel Isabella Steyn, wat sy ook ’n "volksmoeder" noem. In 1983 verskyn In Liefde En Trou: Die Lewe Van President M.T. Steyn En Mevrou Tibbie Steyn Met ’n Keuse Uit Hulle Korrespondensie deur Karel Schoeman by die uitgewery Human & Rousseau.[7] In 1997 kom ’n baie volledige biografie, Tibbie, Rachel Isabella Steyn 1865–1955. Haar lewe was haar boodskap deur Elbie Truter aan die beurt. Truter was ook verantwoordelik vir Die lewe van Rachel Isabella Steyn in die Oranje-Vrystaat, 1865–1905 en Rachel Isabella Steyn, 1905–1955. Verwysings ↑ Smit, ds. A.P. 1945. Gedenkboek van die Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente Beaufort-Wes (1820–1945). Kaapstad: N.G. Kerkraad, Beaufort-Wes. ↑ Van Schoor, M.C.E. 1974. STEYN, Rachel Isabella. Potgieter, D.J. (hoofred.) Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Nasou Limited. ↑ Die Burger, 27 September 1989 ↑ Die Greybom. ↑ Biografieë van besondere Suid-Afrikaners, Emily Hobhouse Geargiveer 6 Maart 2012 op Wayback Machine. ↑ Ancestry24.com ↑ Met ’n beskrywing van die inhoud. Bronne Olivier, ds. P.L., Ons gemeentelike feesalbum. Kaapstad en Pretoria: N.G. Kerk-uitgewers, 1952. Dreyer, eerw. A. 1924. Eeuwfeest-Album van de Nederduits Gereformeerde-Kerk in Zuid-Afrika 1824–1924. Kaapstad: Publikatie-kommissie van de Z.A. Bijbelvereniging. Van Schoor, M.C.E. 1974. STEYN, Rachel Isabella. Potgieter, D.J. (hoofred.) 1974. Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Nasou Limited.

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