APPENDIX

7. OBITUARY OF Salmon Jacobus Petrus Kotzee (Kotzé)

“Die Winburger”, 1947

[Originally written in Afrikaans vernacular, this is a free translation]

Salmon Jacobus Petrus Kotzé was born in Winburg on 20 April 1895; then under the republican flag. It was a short-lived experience because in his fifth year the Anglo-Boer War broke out. On 3 May 1890, Winburg was occupied by the British; the first British flag was raised over the magistrates court, and, on that day, he buried his mother. That was only the beginning of his difficulties. He was sent to the Camp for Women, Brandfort, where he had to endure bitter hardship and where two of his younger sisters died. At the end of the war, he was to return to Winburg, and into the care of his wonderful grandmother, Hester Erasmus, mother of Gert and Daan Erasmus.

His school days began in the public school in Winburg under the principal Mr D Pyne Mercier. After completing standard 6, he went to Theunissen (formerly Smaldeel) public school where he matriculated and so ended his school days. As a school boy he blossomed into someone with a courteous and friendly manner to all, especially to the elderly.

He was to developed skills with his hands when, together with a friend, he began working in the mills in Winburg. The corn store at the grain merchant was not too unacceptable, for it was there that he was promoted to bookkeeper – and so he began to get administrative experience. He worked as a clerk to Piet van den Werken and later to the firm van Wyle. Frikkie Cronjé perceived talent in Sam, and it was under his patronage that he was to serve so loyally. On the death of benefactor Frikkie Cronjé, he was thus already comfortably prepared for the idea of opening a business. Though of minimal resources, the business grew from a “hobby” into a flourishing concern.

He was married to one of Winburg’s teachers, Miss Stella Serrurier. Out of this union two children were born. A son, Victor, whom he apprenticed as a legal clerk to Kannameyer Wardhaugh and Ashman in Bloemfontein and Yvonne married to a Johannesburg engineer,

Mr Ferreira.

Mr Sam Kotzé was one of the most competent members of the Winburg community. He was a town counsellor for seven years. He was mayor from 1945 to 1947 and through his efficient leadership much good was achieved for the town. He was director of the Winburg Creamery, the Milling Company, and secretary to the Winburg Orphanage. As chairman of the Winburg Swimming Club and President of the Youth League, he achieve much good. He long served as deacon and business manager to the church. This he accomplished with credit.

All his life, he was a strong supporter of the United Party under the leadership of Generals Botha and Smuts and the permanent chairman of the Winburg branch of the party. He had a wide circle of friends and never mixed politics and business, always managing to retain a friendship despite differences of (political) opinion. During the rebellion, he was a dispatch rider for Generals Botha and Luckin and so it was also there that he did his duty to the best of his ability.

He developed a devotion for Jersey cattle and built up a good stud the which won him many prizes on open shows. More than once he took champion status away with him.

On the 17 July his life ended at the young age of 52 years. He was buried in great pomp and ceremony from the Moeder Kerk (Afri: “Mother Church”) by the Rev. J Rabie of Excelsior. Friends came from far and wide to show their last respects. At the graveside, the superintendent of the orphanage laid a couple of wreathes, tributes to his life of service.

As Secretary to the Winburg Club he gave years of loyal service. He also served on the Winburg Hospital Board. For the Winburg area, he was messenger of the court and deputy sheriff.

F R Cronjé and H F Serfontein of P.O.Box 63, Winburg, were Advocates and Attorneys-at-Law, Notaries Public, Sworn Translators, Auctioneers, Government Appraisers and agents for S.A. Mutual Life Assurance Society and Fire Assurance Companies. Cronje handled the liquidation accounts of S J P Kotzé’s sisters who died in the Bradfort Camp for Women ; and furnished information to the Master of the High Court in Bloemfontein when the Erasmus Estate, payments relating to inheritance therefrom and J A Kotzee were in dispute.