History Articles

Culna Articles

THE FOUNDING OF BLOEMFONTEIN’S ‘MODEL LOCATION’

BY Derek du Bruyn March 29, 2019

In 2018 Batho, Bloemfontein’s oldest existing historically-black township or so-called ‘location’, celebrates its centenary. Compared to other South African townships of similar size and age, Batho is no ordinary township because of its rich and colourful history. During the past 100 years much had happened there, most notably on a socio-political level. For example, consider the fact that the well-known founder-member and first speaker of the South African Native National Congress (later ANC), Thomas Mapikela, lived in Batho until his death in 1945.

Culna Articles

RACHEL THOKA – A forgotten heroine and leader

BY Marianna Botes March 29, 2019

Rachel Thoka was born around 1825, apparently in a West African country. As a young girl she was sold in the slave market in Cape Town to a white farmer, Sarel Griesel, whose wife wanted a young slave. In typical Afrikaner tradition of the time, the Griesels gave her a new name taken from the Bible, namely Rachel, and she learned to speak Dutch.

Although slavery was abolished in the Cape Colony on 1 December 1834, Rachel remained in the service of the Griesels and during the Great Trek (c. 1834–1838) travelled with them into the Transgariep (today Free State) and Natal.

Culna Articles

NEWS: ‘Marrying a man who was already married to the nation’ – The Walter and Albertina Sisulu love story

BY Khotso Pudumo February 20, 2019

https://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/walter-sisulu-timeline-1912-2003

Audrey Hepburn once said that the best thing to hold onto in life is each other. In this month of love, we look at the inspiring love story of two struggle heroes, Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Their love survived the dark days of apartheid, when Walter Sisulu was imprisoned eight times, banned, placed under house arrest, tried twice for treason, and, in 1964, jailed for life.

History Articles

“Blazen en snorken” en “Woest rijden”

BY Marianna Botes December 31, 2017

“Blazen en snorken” en “Woest rijden”: Verkeersweë en vervoer in Bloemfontein teen die laat-negentiende eeu

Marianna Botes¹ en André Wessels²

¹Departement Geskiedenis, Nasionale Museum, Posbus 266, Bloemfontein, 9300, Suid-Afrika

en Navorsingsgenoot, Departement Geskiedenis, Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Bloemfontein

²Departement Geskiedenis, Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Posbus 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, Suid-Afrika en Besoekende Professor, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra

Afrikaans Articles

Bloemfontein se wroeging in vervloë dae met “stert-in”-parkering

BY Hannes Haasbroek November 30, 2017

Toentertyd met die koms van die motorkar na Suid-Afrika het verkeersreëls en -regulasies vanselfsprekend met die toename in verkeer al hoe meer op die voorgrond getree om orde op dié terrein te handhaaf. Bygesê, selfs met die trapsuutjiespoed van die destydse motors en spoedbeperkings van so laag as 15 m/h (24 km/h) het ongelukke sporadies plaasgevind weens onvoldoende verkeersreëls en die gebrek aan die nougesette toepassing daarvan.