Dirk Human interview transcription in point form
Interviewer and transcriber: Rita Wiesemann
Born in Vryheid in 1942
*Lived on a farm called Goedgeloof near Bloedrivier Station
*Father was a “trekboer”
*Then moved to the farm Dordrecht in Paulpietersburg area
*In 1961 they moved to the farm Goudhoek just outside Wakkerstroom (parents were friends with Nico Taljaard, the local tailor
*Basis of trekboere was relevant farmhouse or an additional furnished house for trekboer and his family.
*worked on farms in Wakkerstroom area like Goudhoek, Dagwacht and Gelykwater/many of these farmers had thousands of sheep
*Dirk’s mother was a Scheepers. Scheepersnek named after her family.
*Life of a trekboer entailed moving cattle around for better grazing or for shearing purposes; also transported wool to the railway station
*Was an exciting life for a child; walked behind the cattle; donkey cart with provisions (amongst which live chickens) went ahead; at overnight stop it was time for a good meal, slept between the sheep – a real pioneer’s life
*Peak times for trekking was May and September
*In earlier years Dirk and his brother Koos accompanied their father on treks, later only in school holidays
*Primary school education was in Paulpietersburg and high school in Ermelo;
*in1961 Dirk did his 9months military training in Bloemfontein
*Then a year in Ladysmith (KZN); troops were given the task of fixing the old concentration camps barracks; learnt many useful skills.
*in 1962 it was time for Dirk to spread his wings; with a blue jacket, flannel trousers, two shirts and £2in his pocket he was off to Johannesburg
*Stayed in DR Youth Hostel in Bertrams
*Worked for a Siberian, who was very good to Dirk;
*Trading business had humble beginnings; started off with horse and cart; traded in old oil drums, which were then revamped and resold.
* Trusted Dirk; bought him a Simca 100car which he could pay off
*Returned to Wakkerstroom in 1968 father employed by Dirk Uys Nel at Goudhoek
*Dirk then worked for Roads Department till 1974
*Then moved to Paulpietersburg where he built a grain mill; lived in a shack on premises; power supplied by a water mill (no Escom those days!)
*Father sick, sold mill to Natal Landbou Korporasie (today privately owned) and returned to Wakkerstroom
*Bought piece of land near Zaaihoek called Winkelhoek (now owned by Nortjés)
*paid R30,0000, building costs a mere R6000 “huis gebou met sement en sweet”
*Other material was sourced in environment; dragged rocks on corrugated iron sheets with oxen; scavenged for old building material like roof beams
* Farmed intensively on Winkelhoek
*Sold Winkelhoek for R80,000 and moved back to Wakkerstroom in 1980 when he got married to Max
*Bought Dr de Villiers’ house (c/o Engelbrecht and Laag Str)
*There were 2 houses on stand; Dirk combined them into one