Tour dates: August/September 1960
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View Photo Set 1/4 | Set 2/4 | Set 3/4 | Set 4/4 | Maps | 1960 visit
Tom and I worked for a month at African Explosives, Modderfontein
Here a kind work colleague took us out for a drive at a weekend.
Later we worked for a month at the
Chamber of Mines Research Laboratory Johannesburg
Here is central Jo'burg on a Sunday
This photo might be from the laboratory window,
but I am not sure.
At the weekends there were "Mine Dances" organised
Miners competed to win the top prize
Some were spectacular
Some showed real talent!
We were able to hire a motor cycle from a colleague.
This meant we could travel.
This is the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria
One of our outings was to Magoebaskloof
I think all these were taken there
These, I think, were taken between Pretoria and Jo'burg
One weekend we were invited to Coligny as guests of the Mayor
He was keen to show how the Whites were helping the Bantu
e.g. This housing project
It was fascinating to see the work in progress
especially this improvised concrete mixer
Our host even arranged an unsupervised meeting with Chief Laban Sithole
He was not ungrateful of the project, but hated the Apartheid system which left all the Bantu as permanently second-class citizens
After two months working we set off for a one month tour of the country
In 1960 there were hardly any surfaced roads once outside the bigger towns
Some roads were quite hard to detect!
I have pleasant memories of the people
Tom had an introduction to Anthony and Maggie Barker
who ran a mission hospital at Nqutu
We spent a fascinating week with them
We saw the life of the hospital and even made ourselves useful in the operating theatre (holding paraffin lanterns aloft after the diesel generator failed)
We went with Anthony on a rural clinic
The patients were as fascinating as the clinic work
Near the clinic there were some Bushman rock paintings in very good condition
Sadly the area was very poor
It was overgrazed, had soil erosion and people were often really hungry
At the weekend we visited a local kraal
where we were invited to a beer drink by the local chief.
We were also allowed to photograph one of his wives in her best finery.
The beautiful scenery of the SE coastal route has changed little today
However, the rivers had no bridges - just primitive ferries
By one of the ferries we met these young musicians
They farm Ostriches here
They used to catch them and let you ride
End of my first ride
Second ride
A glorious ride on the motor bike
I have been unable to find it on the modern map. I think they now have a sort of motorway higher up on the cliff.
We visited a vinyard
I cannot remember anything about it!
Did visit Cape Point and the photo shows Cape of Good Hope
In my memory the visit was wetter and more foggy than the photo!
A long straight road
One of the few with a tarmac surface
An attractive country
Still not changed much
The roads can still be described as "interesting"
The people still cut a fine figure
but not as striking as in 1960.
The roads finally wrecked the motor bike.
It happened on the main road into Maseru. In the folowing hour and a half, only three vehicles went past! Happily the third was an empty pickup heading back to Johannesburg. So ended our journey!
View Photo Set 1/4 | Set 2/4 | Set 3/4 | Set 4/4 | Maps | 1960 visit