Stephanus Gerhardus van Blerk (1912 - 1989)

Born 9 Jun 1912 in Malmesbury, Cape Province, South Africa

Ancestors

Husband of Hendrina Petronella (Fourie) van Blerk — married 19 Dec 1953 in Umtali, Rhodesia

Descendants

Died 9 Aug 1989 at age 77 in Pretoria, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Louw van Blerk [send private message]

Biography

Stephanus Gerhardus was born in 1912, on the farm "Wyngaard" in the district Malmesbury. See photo of him as a baby: https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Van_Blerk-142-12

He completed hie school education at "Swartland School" in Malmesbury around 1928.

He grew up just after the "Boereoorlog" that ended in 1902 and must have been aware of the Rebellion by Afrikaners and South Africa's involvement in the "Great War" 1914-1918.

He survived the "Spanish Flu" of 1922 and lived through the world depression of 1933.

He worked on his dad's farm until he joined the South African Police. He enrolled with the Police College in Pretoria on 5 Sep 1935.

He was stationed in Clan William, Cape Province most of the time, but he also based in Ematimolo - Greytown in 1938 Natal. See photo: https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Van_Blerk-142-13

His farther died on 19 Apr 1937 from a fall while fixing plumbing in the bathroom. Stefaan could not make it to his dad's funeral which bothered him all his life.

He purchased his discharge from the Police on 30 Nov 1944 after nine years in the police.

Shortly after the end of WW2 Stefaan and friends L.P. Louw (and his wife Lettie) and Nick van Wyk bought a red Ford lorry, departed from Malmesbury and arrived in Rhodesia on 16 Dec 1945.

Stefaan and friends started farming on a farm near Fort Jameson in Northern Rhodesia. He enjoyed telling the story of them going to a pub and a young elephant came strolling in for a beer - they probably gave him more the he could handle but he would leave stumbling.

I am not sure of the context but my dad mentioned the following places: Beatrice Farm (there was also a gold mine in Beatrice), Norton/Norway, Darwindale, Misipasi Estate and Makoko Farm (where mom an dad lived when I was born)

By 1947 they moved south to Rusape. That was also the first time he registered for an election in Rhodesia.

He initially worked for a wealthy tobacco farmer, Hans Kok (Son of Mike Kok) as "Foremen” on “Geluk Farm” before he bought their own land.

He passed away in 1989. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Louw van Blerk , his son.

BIRTH

Stephanus van Blerk Image 4

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Lidmaat van NG Kerk - Swartland

"South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6V29-3F2S : 3 April 2023), Stephanus Gerhardus Van Blerk, 1930.

Lidmaat van NG Kerk - Clanwilliam

"South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6VQY-9TXZ : 3 April 2023), Stephanus Gerhardus Van Blerk, 1939.

POLICE SERVICE

Stephanus van Blerk Image 8

VOTER REGISTRATION

Southern Rhodesia 1947

"Zimbabwe, Voter Registration, 1938-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K5Z-Y7T1 : 27 April 2023), Stephanus Gerhardus Van Blerk, 1947.

Southern Rhodesia 1953

"Zimbabwe, Voter Registration, 1938-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K5Z-Y7TB : 27 April 2023), Stephanus Gerhardus Van Blerk, 1953.

MARRIAGE

Stephanus van Blerk Image 6

DEATH

Stephanus van Blerk Image 5

GRAVE

http://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=2718764

FATHER'S DEATH SERTIFICATE

"South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPWD-SZH4 : 27 April 2020), Stephanus Gerhardus Van Blerk, 1937.