APPENDIX

9. BIOGRAPHY of Victor Serrurier Kotzé

This constitutes a brief overview of a very full and worthwhile life, and in no sense should be construed as definitive.

Education ~ at Grey College, Bloemfontein. Matriculated 1943.

Military History ~ 616810V A/S V.S.Kotzé. At age 18½ years, when an articled clerk, volunteered (as an “Afrikander”) for service with the South African Navy. Was posted to SA Naval Forces Citizen Force Base, Cape Town 15 August 1944. Seconded to Royal Navy as Able Seaman 10 November 1944. He saw service aboard HMS Fishguard, HMS Hunter and HMS Royal Sovereign, in Aden, Singapore, Siam (Thailand), India (Rangoon, Bombay : where he met Mahatma Gandhi), Ceylon (Colombo), Tanganyika (Mombasa). Discharged 25 December 1945 with 52 days pay in lieu of leave. Was awarded Burma Star, The War Medal 1939-45, Africa Service Medal.

Legal Practice ~

· Articled clerk with Kannameyer Wardhaugh and Ashman in Bloemfontein until July 1944 and Van Hulsteyn, Feltham & Ford, Johannesburg in 1946.

· Qualified as Attorney 11 April 1950 appearing before Mr.Justice Horwitz of the Orange Free State Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

· Qualified as Notary Public 5 May 1955 appearing before Mr.Justice P J van Blerk of the Orange Free State Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

· Qualified as Conveyancer 16 June 1964 appearing before Mr.Justice S Hofmeyr of the Orange Free State Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

He practiced in Winburg from 1950, first as Sam Kotzé & Co., later as Victor Kotze & Steyn and lastly as Victor Kotze and Smit until shortly before his death.

Farming was a hobby. He owned “Rhona” (1960’s-1990) and farmed “Hartplaas” and “Bosrand”; concentrating on dairy and beef cattle; and blesbok, a wild South African antelope.

He was committed to community service, holding inter alia the following positions within the Winburg community :

· Treasurer (“scriba”) N.G.Kerk, Winburg 1960-1990

· Director of Midde-Vrystaatse Suiwelkoöperasie 1975-1990

· Committee member Winburg Orphanage 1954-1990 ; Chairman 1983-1990

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