Your guide to Heidelberg Gauteng
#Old Gaol / Old Prison
Heritage Blue Plaque #Nr 1
OLD GAOL / SALMON VAN AS EXECUTION SITE - Cnr of Jordaan and Ueckermann Street
What is the story here?
"In the early days of Heidelberg, the first lockup belonged to Heinrich Ueckermann, secured only by a wagon wheel. On May 21, 1878, Magistrate Carl Ueckermann submitted a report stating dire conditions of the jail, calling it unfit for holding prisoners due to its decayed walls and collapsing thatch roof. He urged government for a new facility, emphasizing the urgent need for a proper jail. However, just months later, on October 29, 1878, two prisoners managed to escape and comically returned to the scene, caught while attempting to rehang their cell door."
In 1867 Mr FK Mare, the first Magistrate of Heidelberg, requested from the President that a Jail be built in Heidelberg. He also asked if he could use the War funds. His request was approved, but not to use the War funds. In 1868 he received 100 Pounds, which was too little to build a 30x20 feet building. The lowest tender was 180 Pounds. He kept the money as a deposit.
A year later he asked if the 1509 Pounds allocated for Public Works, also be for the building of the Jail. 2 months later, it was agreed. The government bought a potion of Stand No 86 from HJ Ueckermann for 1100 pounds. A Magistrates Court and Jail was built on the stand. See attached map. Mr Fritz Ueckermann, the local sheriff also became the “Sapier”.
On the 21st May 1878, Mr Carl Ueckermann, the new Magistrate, wrote a report to the government.
“I have the honour to report that the jail at Heidelberg is not available to hold prisoners. It is a very old building of green bricks with a thatch roof. The walls are thin and decayed, the roof is falling in and admits daylight freely and repairs to it would be a waste of money. I would therefore bring under you notice, the urgent necessity of having a new building erected in this village, trusting that the government will decide to erect a proper jail and call tenders for the same”. Signed: Ueckermann, Landrost, 21 May 1878. (This Ueckermann was the half brother of Heinrich Ueckermann)
On the 29th of October 1878, 2 prisoners escaped and broke into a store in town. Only to be discovered by accident, on their return, while neatly re-hanging their cell door.
A new jail was built only 10 years later. On 24 January 1888, the tender was given to Mr WA de Rapper who quoted:-
a) 3,682 pounds for four main walls in stone.
b) 3,188 if walls are completed in brick.
The State Architect decided on stone with adjustments to allow for bars on the windows. Additional cost was 119-2-1 pounds. By December 1888 the new jail was ready to receive prisoners.
In 1891, a delegation consisting of PG Mare (Inspector of Prisons), the Heidelberg, the Public Prosecutor and the District Surgeon visited the jail. They reported:-
“The mules wander around the courtyard and naturally make lots of noise with their hooves on the stone floors, so much that the warder on guard could not distinguish whether or not anyone was trying to escape! The mules have to be locked in the courtyard as there is no other place for them”.
Tenders were put out for the building of a stable. The State Architect made 60 pounds available and they were built by Mr James Russell and finished on November 2nd 1891.
The stable has since fallen down and only half of the walls were standing. The rest of the rocks have now been taken away by freelance builders to clad walls in Heidelberg.
According to the blue prints from 1888, there were 2 cells for females, 2 cells for males, 2 rooms for the Hospital, a kitchen, 2 storerooms, a Guard room and the “Sapiers” (Head Warden’s) office. There were also 2 court yards, one for male prisoners and one for female prisoners. The main courtyard was used for the mules. The males bathed in a 1,5m x 2,1m x 1.1m deep bath, that is located in the Male courtyard. I can imagine that the water was only changed once a month and that no hot water was provided, especially in winter. The females had a shallow trough, where they could wash, in their court yard. Bucket toilets were provided for the prisoners.
Eventually more cells were needed for the men, so two cells were added in the female courtyard, with a corrugated guard hut. The doorway to the main courtyard was closed.
2 solitary confinement cells leading into the male courtyard were also built.
In 1937 the house next door was built to house the guards and most of the rooms in the jail were used as cells. The prison was used until 1963, when the inmates were moved to the new prison in Rensberg. The Police took over the Wardens house and the jail stood derelict for a number of years. In 1993 the Heidelberg Publicity Association, together with the MOTHs restored and upgraded the old jail. The MOTHs are still the current custodians and used by a number of organisations for meetings. It is also used as a museum exhibiting artefacts from the old “Signal Cor” and the “Heidelberg Commando”. Tours may be arranged by contacting Tony Burisch on 072 460 9663.
#Salmon van As
(Execution at Old Gaol)
What is the story here?
The Execution of Salmon van As - In 1902, Veldkornet Salmon Van As faced execution for the murder of Captain Ronald Miers of the Somerset Light Infantry. The incident began in August 1901 when Field Cornet Botha reported a British officer, under a white flag, approaching his men with a proclamation for General Botha. This officer, Captain Miers, attempted to persuade Commando members to surrender, which led to Van As being dispatched to apprehend him. The circumstances surrounding the capture remain murky, shrouded in a blend of historical accounts and conflicting narratives. His arrest eventually led to his execution by firing squad behind the Old Gaol.
The Execution of Salmon van As - It was here, where Veldkornet Salmon Van As was executed in 1902, for the murder of Captain Miers SLI. In August 1901, Field Cornet Botha reported to Commandant Alberts about a British Officer, carrying a white flag, approaching his men saying that he wished to hand a proclamation to General Botha. Later reports indicated that the same officer rode out to Commando’s in the field, under a white flag, offering cigarettes and trying to convince them to surrender.
It was decided that Field Cornet Salmon van As, of the Heidelberg Commando, be sent out to capture this officer. This officer was Captain Ronald Miers. Miers came to South Africa with the Somerset Light Infantry, he was attached to the SA Constabulary in December 1900. After being wounded in a skirmish, he was transferred to the Heidelberg area, where he commanded an outpost at Riversdraai south of the town.
It was here where Van As planned to capture Miers. Here is where the story becomes blurred with different accounts.....According to Louis Slabbert, who accompanied him, they rode out to an old ruined mission station, near the bend in the Suikerbosrand River, on September 25th. Here they waited for Miers. He came riding out, with a white flag, at 1pm. Van As immediately went towards him. When they met, Miers suddenly bolted, ignoring Van As’s order to stop. Slabbert then heard a shot, causing Captain Miers to fall from his horse, dropping the revolver he was carrying. Slabbert was shocked to see a man carrying a white flag shot down.Van As explains the encounter, “Miers demanded my surrender.
I refused, saying I had been sent out to capture him, to put a stop to the treacherous manner in which he was undermining our men”. Miers responded by drawing his revolver, but Van As shot struck first. Weeks later, Van As’s fiancé, Miss Nellie Nortje, approached the Heidelberg Commando in the field, informing them of the warrant that was issued for the arrest of Van As for the murder of Captain R Miers and three black scouts from Emmasdal. On the evening that the “peace treaty” was signed, General Botha warned Van As that the case was still to be settled. Van As wanted to flee, but Botha reassured him that the British would only investigate the matter and that his life would not be in danger. The next morning the Heidelberg Commando laid down their arms at Kraal Station and returned to their homes. On 8th June 1902, Van As and Slabbert were summoned to Heidelberg. On arrival, they were arrested and given separate rooms in the Victorian Hotel. From June 17th to 19th both men went before a military tribunal, which was held in the Waverley Hotel.
Van As chose to handle his own defence and tried to create doubt on witnesses’ testimonies. Slabbert could not understand English, so depended on a cell mate to interpret. On the 22nd June, Van As was found guilty and sentenced to death the next morning. Slabbert was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. Salmon van As was executed by firing squad behind the jail, his back to the wall, on the 23rd June 1902 at dawn. The squad was made up of the Somerset Light Infantry, embittered by the death of their popular officer. His body was buried 600 metres away in a shallow grave.
Field Cornet Hans Botha later planted a thorn tree to mark the spot. A few years later, the Van As family received an apology from the British Government. They conceded that Salmon did not receive a fair trial, due to the fact that he was not allowed to call his own witnesses. Compensation was offered but refused. On the 17th October 1903, the body of Van As, was re-interred in the Kloof Cemetery, beside other officers and men of the Heidelberg Commando. Louis Slabbert served two years and returned to Heidelberg. He later joined the South African Police. He died in 1962 at 82 years of age.
