LAER VOLKSKOOL

After the 2nd Anglo Boer War the Nederduitsche Congregation were responsible for 28 orphans from the local concentration camp. Ds AJ Louw founded an orphanage in a house at the corner of Begemann and Ueckermann Streets, lent for the purpose by Mr. Cornelis Mayer. Sometime later this was moved to a house in Pretorius Street, under the care of Widow Okker Spruyt and later under the widow of Jan Spruyt.

Then came the question of education – There were two schools now – one for paying children in the present “Public School” that was on the corner of Mare and Begemann Streets and the other a “free” school for poor children on the low-lying ground now occupied by the Municipal Power Station. (I think just below where the Spar is). In spite of the fact that the medium of instruction was in English, the British Director of Education made a statement:- “that what British arms have not been able to accomplish, we will achieve by means of education!” Ds. Louw refused to send the children to a school, where they would be brought up with an English bias.

So he opened a school for them in the cellar of the Klipkerk, which was known as “the cave of Adullam”. A certified teacher, Miss Anna Basson, was appointed. She was assisted by part time helpers- Miss Kitty Brink and other young ladies from the congregation. In a short time other children, who did not want to attend the government school were also taken in. Miss Katie Human was appointed as the second teacher. The cellar was eventually too small for the school.

In July 1903 a public meeting of parents was held in the “Cave” and a school commission was appointed. Ds Louw as chairman, Ds J van Belkum, Ds WJ de Klerk, Mr J Freislich, Mr JC Bosman, Mr PR Viljoen and Adv Stockenstrom. The parents gave the committee the instruction to set up local guidelines, premises, teachers and to liaise with Pretoria, for a new school.

In 1905, Frederik J Bezuidenhout donated a piece of ground for the building of a school. Frederik’s brother Willem WJ Bezuidenhout and their brother in law Cornelius FJ Meyer later decided to build and finance the school. The brothers were the sons of the Frederik J Bezuidenhout, who owned Doornfontein, Braamfontein and Turfontein before the gold rush. Bez valley was named after him. The son Frederik J Bezuidenhout built the mansion “De Rust” on the Vereeniging road.

The corner stone was laid on the 27th October 1906 in the presence of S.W. Burger (previous vice-president of the ZAR).The inauguration of the school took place on the 11th of January 1907. The builder was the well known Deacon Mr J.S. Joubert. The Van Belkum Hall was used as temporary classrooms, (by hanging curtains to make up 3 class rooms) while the school was being built. 
The front hall is known as “Monument Hall” in honour to the men and women, from the Heidelberg District, that died in the 2nd Anglo Boer War.

Above the door of the “Monument Hall” are the words, “Ter Roemryke nagedachtenis van hen, die tydens oorlog 1899-1902 uit het district Heidelberg zijn omkomen. T.w. 90 burgers die sneuvelden, 624 mannen, vrouwen en kinders in de kampen en 153 die te huis of in het veld gestorven zyn: 867 offers voor Vryheid, vaderland en volk”.

On the 15th of January, in the presence of guests and parents, the teachers and children took possession of the school. Prof J.I. Marais from Stellenbosch handed out prizes and certificates to the children.   
Two years later, Theo Donges was appointed as the first headmaster. The first teachers were Miss A Basson, Katie Human, C. Thom and S van Huyssteen. S van Huyssteen eventually married Theo A Donges.
And so the school without money, teachers and a school building came into existence by people believing in God, their fatherland and themselves. Mrs S Donges shares in Afrikaans: “Dit was dae van harde werk, maar daar was seker nooit n gelukkiger oderwyspersoneel nie; almal een gees, een van strewe... die werk was onuitspreekike vreugde”.

References and picture credits: “Story of Heidelberg” unpublished by Noel Roberts, “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr AEF Bosman and “Pro Deo Et Patria” by Dr AEF Bosman.
Other picture credits: Nicholas Clark in artefacts.co.za and Lille McGregor.

Theodor Amadeus Heinrich Donges was born in Carnarvon on the 28th August 1869. He was the son of Reverend Michael Donges. At 14 years old he went to Stellenbosch and studied for 5 years. Because he had trouble with his eyes, he could not finish his medical studies. After resting his eyes for some time, he was offered a six month practical course at the New Somerset Hospital.

From then on, he decided that he would be a teacher. At 21 years old, in 1890, he travelled to Johannesburg. Because of the dust of the city bothering his eyes, he moved to Elsburg, where he opened a one man school. He stayed there two and a half years and then became a headmaster at a government school in Germiston. 
In neat handwriting, on the 27th of November 1894, Donges applied for the position of the head master of the Heidelberg Government School. He was accepted and started on the 21st January 1895. During his time there he introduced house rules to the school.

With the outbreak of the 2nd Anglo Boer War, Donges joined the Heidelberg Commandos. With his medical knowledge he became head of the ambulance unit in the field. He was eventually promoted to Veld Cornet and was attached to a unit of the Heidelberg Commandos, as a special guard to the government in the field.
During the war he had two horses killed under him.  He once was given a wild horse.   Jopie Fourie offered to exchange his pure bred Arabian for it.  He agreed on condition that he returned the valuable horse to Fourie after the war.

After the war, he returned to Heidelberg, finding that the school was under the Milner regime. He decided to become a lawyer working for General CF Beyers. Ds AJ Louw convinced him to come to Heidelberg in 1903, to become the headmaster of the new Volkskool.

Theo Donges accepted the position of headmaster of the Volkskool school.  He married miss S van Huyssteen on the 18th of October 1906 and they had two sons and two daughters.  In 1907 he became inspector of education and from 1909 to 1929 head of the teachers training college of Heidelberg.  He retired to his farm, but remained active in public life by becoming a senator before his death on the 19th of October 1951, at the age of 81 years.  His grave is alongside the commando plot in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.
There is a story of a young man that had to make a difficult decision in the 2nd Anglo Boer War. He had to decide between doing his duty, by not giving his commando away or being killed. He chose doing his duty and lived. 

He stated: “There is a place where I lived and went to school. A teacher who I came into acquaintance. If you knew him, as I came to know him, you would immediately say he is a man who has one passion in his life and that is to the faithfully fulfilment of his duties.” He was asked: “At the moment when you had to choose your duty. What were you thinking?” He answered immediately that he saw his old teacher in front of him. “That teacher was a personality, someone with character, someone you could depend on, that will stand his ground and someone you could follow. He was a leader.”
It was a well known fact that Dr Malan was talking about TA Donges and the place was Heidelberg.    
Mr Donges was a lifelong friend of Dr DF Malan 

References and picture credits: “Story of Heidelberg” unpublished by Noel Roberts, “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr AEF Bosman, “Pro Deo Et Patria” by Dr AEF Bosman and “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys.

​Source: Heidelberg Heritage Association - Article Post (Click to visit website)