René de Villiers writes: By any measure the political situation in South Africa this year is unsettling. But it pales against the political turmoil in the country one hundred years ago in 1914.
Following the assassination of the Crown Prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz-Ferdinand in June of that year in Sarajevo, the First World War (at the time referred to as The Great War) broke out on the 28th July 1914.
Because of its connection with Belgium, Great Britain was drawn into the war within a week, on 3rd August; and by early September of that year the world was introduced to the horrors of trench warfare.
In South Africa, the Union Government formed in 1910 under the premiership of Genl. Louis Botha and with Genl. Jan Smuts as Minister of Defence sided with Great Britain, and parliament in Cape Town resolved to invade German West Africa (today known as Namibia).
The Anglo Boer War had ended a scant 12 years before on 31st May 1902, and some of the “Bitter einder” generals on the Boer side saw the Great War as an opportunity to reclaim their independence from Britain.
Talk of an armed rebellion was in the air, although the protagonists referred to themselves as merely protesters.
The immensely influential Genl. Koos de la Rey, fondly referred to as “Die Leeu van die Wes-Transvaal” and the hero of many battles in the Anglo-Boer War had not openly declared his intentions.
In the meantime the four-member Foster Gang of bank robbers – predating the notorious American pair Bonnie and Clyde by some thirty years – was active on the Reef, and various road blocks had been set up in and around Johannesburg in an attempt to catch the gang.
One such road block was positioned in Langlaagte where Deville Road (recently renamed Albertina Sisulu) meets Du Toit Street. On the evening of 15th September 1914, Genls. De la Rey and Christiaan Beyers were on their way, by car, from Pretoria, ostensibly to Potchefstroom. Beyers had, just that morning, resigned his post as Commandant-General of the Citizen Force, and the two generals, encountering the road blocks, were, apparently, under the impression that Jan Smuts was attempting to detain and question Genl. Beyers.
They ordered their driver to ignore the roadblocks and at the Langlaagte roadblock one of the constables on duty fired a shot, reportedly aiming at the right hand back wheel of the car.
The ricochet bullet entered the rear of the car, and a fragment thereof lodged in Genl. De La Rey’s heart, killing him instantly.
The armed rebellion eventually petered out, but to this day there is speculation about the influence Genl. De la Rey would have had, had he joined the movement.
Conspiracy theories also persist to this day as to who was responsible for his death.
The unanimous opinion, then and now, is that there is no doubt that this tragic incident had a profound influence on the events of the day.
As such, it is fitting that the centenary of the event be commemorated, and arrangements have been made to have a wreath laying ceremony on Sunday 14th September 2014 at 14:00 at the site in question.
Should you wish to learn more about this ceremony, you are invited to contact René de Villiers on 083 317 4339.
Editor’s note: Letter published unedited
