GGSA Noordwestak

Home
South Africa
Potchefstroom
GGSA Noordwestak

Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika (GGSA), Noordwestak Die Tak is gesetel in Potchefstroom en bedien hoofsaaklik die Noordwes Provinsie. Toegang is gratis.

Die Noordwestak is 'n dinamiese tak waar beide beginners, asook meer ervare genealoë tuis voel om hul passie vir familiegeskiedenis uit te leef en met mekaar te deel. Sedert die Tak se stigting op 6 Junie 2004 het die ledetal vanaf 12 tot meer as 60 gegroei. Lede en belangstellendes kom maandeliks met die uitsondering van Januarie, Julie en Desember, by die Potchefstroomse Museum (hoek van Wolmaransstraat en Sol Plaatjielaan) byeen. Die doel van die Tak is om sy lede in staat te stel om familienavorsing te doen. Om hierdie rede word kundiges vanoor die land betrek om oor 'n wye verskeidenheid van onderwerpe van genealogiese belang te kom gesels. Om nuwelinge touwys te maak in die gebruik van genealogiese bronne, word uitstappies na argiewe en die LDS-sentrum onderneem en beginnerkursusse aangebied. Taklede ontvang nie net nie, maar lewer ook 'n bydrae tot genealogie deur begraafplase te fotografeer en die data beskikbaar te stel. Die Tak se biblioteek kon nie 'n meer geskikte tuiste vind as die Potchefstroomse Museum nie. Hier word die Tak se versameling van meer as 150 familieregisters en ongeveer 5000 begrafnisbriewe gerugsteun deur die Museum se versameling van historiese dokumente, plaaslike koerante van so vroeg as 1905, ou foto's, kaarte en gepubliseerde bronne oor o.a. die Groot Trek en Anglo-Boereoorlog. Genealogiese Bronne: Potchefstroom Museum

Die Takbiblioteek in die Potchefstroomse Museum is weeksdae vanaf 9:00 tot 13:00 en vanaf 14:00 tot 16:30 oop. Die Takbiblioteek ontvang daagliks genealogiese navrae wat deur kundige museumpersoneellede en of taklede beantwoord word. Die Tak se lekkerlees nuusbrief, die Famnea verskyn kwartaalliks (Februarie, Mei, Augustus en November). In die nuusbrief kry lede die geleentheid om artikels oor hul familiegeskiedenisnavorsing en of interessante gebeure te skryf. Artikels met 'n Noordwes-strekking kry voorkeur. Die jongste uitgawe van Famnea kan by hierdie skakel afgelaai word:
https://genza.org.za/index.php/af/nw-kwartaalblad

17/02/2026

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Dit is vir die organiseerders van die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie 'n eer om uiteindelik na die lang wag die wenners van die kompetisie te kan aanwys.

Die tweed en derde plek is reeds aangewys en nou is dit tyd om die eerste plek aan te wys. Die persoon wat die eerste plek vir die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie gewen het is Kay-Ann van Rooyen met haar fotoverhaal getiteld The family of Charles Home Jnr.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Dear North West branch members and friends

It is an honour for the organisers of the Window on Yesterday photo story competition to finally be able to announce the winners of the competition after a long wait.

Third and second place has already been announced and now it is time to announce the first place. The person who won first place for the Window on Yesterday photo story competition is Kay-Ann van Rooyen with her photo story titled The family of Charles Home Jnr.
*****************************************************************************
The family of Charles Home Jnr.

It would be wonderful if this family portrait could win a second prize – 120 years after the first one.

The photograph was taken in 1904 at C. Schade photography studio and frame manufactory at 50 Russell Street, Worcester, in what was then the Cape Colony. The framed photograph (80 cm x 70 cm) won first prize in a competition at the local agricultural show in 1905.

The people in the photograph are Brietta Home and her three children, George, Ruby and Natalie. The family lived at 107 Church Street.

The father, Charles Home (1864–1908), practised as an attorney, notary and conveyancer in Worcester from 1886 until his death of typhoid fever at the age of 44.

The mother, Brietta Caroline Drew von Ludwig (1870–1955), who was the daughter of a baron, died at the age of 84 in her Church Street home of cerebral thrombosis.

The eldest, George William Home (1895–1935), also practised as an attorney and notary in Worcester, and died at the age of 40 of subacute infective endocarditis.

The eldest daughter, Ruby Drew Home (1900–1984), was a mathematics teacher at a high school in Worcester for many years. She never married and lived with her mother until the latter’s death; she subsequently sold the house in Church Street and moved to a small double-storey house at 24 Adderley Street, and later to an old-age home. She died of heart failure at the same age as her mother.

The youngest, Natalie Lilian (1903–1958) married at the age of 21 and moved with her husband to Walmer, Port Elizabeth, where she died of coronary thrombosis at the age of 54.

I remember the portrait hanging in Ruby’s home in Adderley Street. She left it to my mother, and today it hangs on my wall.

17/02/2026

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Dit is vir die organiseerders van die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie 'n eer om uiteindelik na die lang wag die wenners van die kompetisie te kan aanwys.

Die derde plek is reeds aangewys en nou is dit tyd om die tweede plek aan te wys. Die persoon wat die tweede plek vir die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie gewen het is Danie Scheeper met sy fotoverhaal getiteld Drie vroue by 'n graf.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Dear North West branch members and friends

It is an honour for the organisers of the Window on Yesterday photo story competition to finally be able to announce the winners of the competition after a long wait.

Third place has already been announced and now it is time to announce the second place. The person who won the second place for the Windows on Yesterday photo story competition is Danie Scheepers with his photo story titled Drie vroue by 'n graf.
*******************************************************************************
Drie vroue by 'n graf

Die skending van grafte landswyd bekommer my. Toe ek ŉ paar jaar gelede ŉ foto van drie vroue by ŉ graf van my neef uit Griekeland ontvang, wou ek met alle mag dié graf op Kadebis in die distrik van Vryburg besoek. Ek het ŉ begeerte gehad om die storie van die oorledene, Christiaan Matthys de Jager en die drie vroue by sy graf te vertel.

Die foto hier onder is die graf van Christiaan Matthys de Jager op Kadebis (c. 1955). Die drie vroue is sy eggenoot en my ouma, Petronella Magdalena (Nettie) Meyer (regs); sy dogter, Matthys Christiaan (Thysie) de Jager (middel) en sy suster, Christina Johanna Herina de Jager (links).

Met my besoek in 2017 vind ek slegs die grafmure van die eens statige graf van Christiaan. Die lieflike leiklip-grafsteen is afgebreek en verwyder. Die rede daarvoor bly ŉ raaisel.

Christiaan is op 26 Augustus 1882 op Uniondale, as die kind van Frederik Johannes Marthinus de Jager en Elsje Catharina van Wyk gebore. Hy trou op 17 Februarie 1914 in Oudtshoorn met my ouma aan moederskant, Petronella Magdalena (Nettie) Meyer (*Uniondale 6 November 1893 †Graaff-Reinet 1 Januarie 1968). Kort na sy huwelik het hulle na die plaas Kadebis, tussen Stella en Piet Plessis verhuis. Nagenoeg ŉ jaar na sy huwelik is hy op 2 Maart 1915 deur weerlig doodgeslaan. My ouma was 3 maande swanger met hul dogter, Matthys Christiaan (Thysie) de Jager (*11 Augustus 2015 †31 Augustus 2005).

Ek onthou ouma Nettie as ŉ kort, gesette vrou met ligbruin hare wat sy op haar kop met ŉ haarnet in plek gehou het. Sy het ŉ groot, bewerige handskrif gehad en het dikwels in haar briewe Hollandse woorde gebruik. As sy op die plaas kom kuier het, het sy na haar kleinkinders verwys as haar ‘strontvoëltjies’. Na die dood van haar eerste man, Christiaan, het sy met my oupa aan moederskant, Nicolaas Jacobus Botha (*1879 †1970) getrou. Hy wou nie na my ouma se kind, Thysie omsien nie. Sy is toe deur haar eerste man se ouers grootgemaak. Na ŉ wankelrige huwelik het my ouma Nettie oupa Nicolaas verlaat. Op 19 Mei 1942 trou sy weer in Johannesburg met ŉ soldaat, Paul Johannes Kruger Olivier. Gedurende die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het ouma Nettie in ŉ ammunisie-fabriek in Vereeniging gewerk. Daar het sy die punte van 2 vingers in ŉ werksongeluk verloor.

Ek het oor die jare kontak met my halftante, Thysie (middel) behou. Sy het vir my eksentriek voorgekom en ek was bang vir haar. Sy het moeilik gekommunikeer.

Die vrou links op die foto, was die oorledene se jongste suster, Christina Johanna Herina de Jager (*5 Junie 1895 †16 Augustus 1971). Sy was ŉ oud-onderwyseres van Kadebis Laerskool en het op die plaas Franshoek, wat deel van Kadebis is, gebly.

Christiaan se graf is gevandaliseer, maar gelukkig het die oorspronklike foto behoue gebly.

Daarom wil ek afsluit met die woorde van Nico Muller: “Die mooi van onthou lê daarin dat jy vandag jou gister kan saam vat, môre toe”.

17/02/2026

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Dit is vir die organiseerders van die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie 'n eer om uiteindelik na die lang wag die wenners van die kompetisie te kan aanwys. Ons gaan eerstens die persoon aanwys wat die derde plek behaal het. Die tweede plek wenner sal om 13:00 aangewys en die eerste plek wenner sal om 15:00 aangewys word.

Die persoon wat die derde plek vir die Venster op Gister fotoverhaal kompetisie gewen het is Henk Visser met sy fotoverhaal getiteld Visser familie beteken niemand word agtergelaat of vergeet nie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Dear North West branch members and friends

It is an honour for the organisers of the Window on Yesterday photo story competition to finally be able to announce the winners of the competition after a long wait. We will first announce the person who won third place. The second place winner will be announced at 13:00 and the first place winner will be announced at 15:00.

The person who won third place for the Window on Yesterday photo story competition is Henk Visser with his photo story titled Visser familie beteken niemand word agtergelaat of vergeet nie.
****************************************************************************
Visser familie beteken niemand word agtergelaat of vergeet nie

Die bogenoemde opskrif sê soveel meer as wat net woorde of ŉ bloedlyn kan beteken. Henk (Johannes Hendrik Visser *27 April 1961) staan hier as 12-jarige, saam met sy pa, Hennie (Johannes Hendrik Visser *2 Augustus 1934 †15 Junie 2016) by oer-oupagrootjie se graf, Johannes Hendrik Visser (Jan Boomplaats) *4 Augustus 1818 †12 Januarie 1901). Henk as die direkte afstammeling en vierde geslag het as jong seun nie besef hoe belangrik en besonders sy verbintenis met Jan Boomplaats is nie. Dit het eers baie jare later tot hom deurgedring

Jan Boomplaats was ŉ interessante en godvresende mens. Sy eerste asemteug was in Tulbagh en hy woon later na sy ouers se hervestiging op die plaas Winterhoek in die distrik Graaff-Reinet, waar hy geskool is en deur die harde en gevaarlike lewe op die Kolonie se Oosgrens saam met sy familie gebly het. In 1831 trou hy met sy eerste vrou, Christiena Mouriena van Zyl van Colesberg en sy sterf 'n jaar later met die geboorte van hul eerste dogtertjie. Op 18 Augustus 1833 tree hy in die huwelik met Jacomina Margaretha Esterhuyzen en saam het hulle twaalf kinders. Sy tweede vrou sterf op 18 April 1869 waarna hy vir die derde keer trou met Louina de K**k (gebore Petrie). Hulle het drie kinders wat beteken dat Jan Boomplaats altesaam sestien kinders gehad het, waarvan een kleintyd dood is.

Na die wrede moord van Piet Retief en sy geselskap, het Jan saam met sy neef Andries Pretorius op 1 Oktober 1838 vertrek na Natal. Hulle geselskap het op 22 November 1838 die Klein-Tugelarivier bereik. Neef Andries Pretorius word as Kommandant-Generaal verkies en daar word besluit om Dingaan vir sy gruweldade te straf. Hulle trek laer by die Ngome (later Bloedrivier). Op Sondag, 16 Desember 1838 met die slag van Bloedrivier het Jan saam met sowat 500 man die laer verdedig toe die Zoeloes met tussen 8000 tot 10 000 krygers die laer bestorm het. Volgens oorlewering was dit Jan wat Genl. Pretorius se hand verbind het toe dit gedurende die slag met 'n assegaai deurboor is.

In die slag van Tugela, na die anneksasie van Natal, was Jan een van die wagte. Met die slag van "Boomplaats" teen die Engelse mag van Sir Harry Smith (1848) het sy dappere optrede hom die bynaam van "Jan Boomplaats" besorg. In die Basoeto-oorlog van 1858 is hy bevorder tot Kommandant. Daarna het hy oor die Vaalrivier getrek en sy eerste plaas was toe in die Orkney-distrik. Daarna het hy in 1861 die plaas Palmietfontein langs die Schoonspruit gekoop en daar geboer tot sy dood.

Soos meeste van ons wat nou permanent op kierieverlof is, word genealogie ŉ wonderlike tydverdryf en betrek dit nie net alleenlik familie nie, maar ook vreemdelinge. Die gevolg is dat niemand agtergelaat of vergeet word nie.

25/12/2025

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Die Noordwestak van die Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika wens u en u geliefdes ‘n geseënde Kersfees en ‘n voorspoedige nuwe jaar vol nuwe herinneringe toe.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear North West Branch Members and Friends

The North West Branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa wishes you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year full of new memories.

29/11/2025

The clock is ticking. The countdown to the end of our Window on Yesterday photo story competition has started. Have you submitted your black-and-white photo story for our Window on Yesterday photo story competition yet? Don’t miss your chance — send in your photo story and let the timeless power of black and white help your family’s voice live on. Hurry! The competition closes at midnight on 30 November 2025. Entry details are available at the following link: https://forms.gle/fVARHkKG5Ppma22q6 (English form) / https://forms.gle/XWAtW3cCnrrQcdUi7 (Afrikaans form)

Here is a good example of a photo story from one of our entries if you still need some inspiration. The photo story titled The Lost Boy of La Provence was written by Christa Meyer Rautenbach.

Every family has its secrets, but ours was hidden behind a changed name and a faded photograph. My grandfather was Jacobus Petrus Roux le Roux, born on 26 May 1892 on the farm La Provence in Franschhoek, a descendant of the proud French Huguenots who had fled religious persecution in the late 1600s to find refuge in the Cape. Yet when he died in Sasolburg in 1974, he was known not as Le Roux, but as Hendrik Ferreira.

For decades no one in our Ferreira branch knew the family name had changed. His past was cloaked in silence, no photographs, no stories, only a gap that begged to be filled.

About ten years ago, curiosity turned into determination. I began tracing our family line, paging through archives and cemetery registers, scouring baptismal records, and connecting with distant cousins. Still, there was no trace of the mysterious Ferreira ancestor before 1930. Then, in 2023, after countless hours spent studying Le Roux family trees, and with the help of DNA analysis and patient friends, the truth at last surfaced. What we discovered was both heartbreaking and illuminating.

My grandfather’s mother, Magdalena Catharina Le Roux, died eleven days after his birth. Her four children were left motherless: six, four, one, and the newborn baby. The infant was taken in by one of her childless sisters. Barely a year later, his father, Joseph Daniel Le Roux, married Magdalena’s youngest sister Elizabeth Catharina, and six more children were born.

At the age of twelve, the boy was brought back to La Provence to help on the farm. Later, he became a clerk in his uncle’s law office, an opportunity that would prove disastrous. In 1925, tragedy struck three times: he was accused of taking money from the firm, and his young wife, Hester Isabella du Plessis, died by su***de. The same year, his elder brother also passed away unexpectedly. Overwhelmed by scandal and grief, his father disinherited him, and the family records fell silent.

Five years later, a man named Hendrik Ferreira appeared in Steynsrus, marrying my grandmother, Magdalena Christina Mienie, in 1930. No one suspected the truth, that Hendrik Ferreira and Jacobus Petrus Le Roux were one and the same.

Nearly a century later, I found three elderly daughters of his father’s second marriage. They confirmed the story and handed me a small, timeworn photograph of my grandfather as a child, the only image linking his two lives. To my Ferreira and Le Roux relatives, who had believed his past was lost forever, it was a revelation.

That photograph is now more than a relic; it is a bridge between families, between loss and discovery. It reminds me that genealogy is not only about names and dates, it is about reclaiming forgotten truths. Through this picture, a lost son of La Provence finally came home.

You ran from your past, Oupa, but I found you in this photograph — the boy you were and the man you became are one again. Rest easy; your family knows who you are.

15/11/2025

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Die jaar is op sy rug en ons jaar afsluiting klop aan die deur.
Vir die jaarafsluiting nooi ons u en u metgesel uit om saam met ons piekniek te kom hou op die President se grasperk op die 22ste November om 10:00. (Neem kennis dat die datum geskuif het van die 8ste na die 22ste November.) Johan Wolfaardt gaan 'n lesing gee en ook 'n begeleide toer doen van die President Pretorius Museum. Bring asb. jou eie piekniek mandjie en 'n stoel of kombers om op te sit.

Ter wille van logistiek vra ons wel dat julle RSVP by ggsanw.info@gmail.com teen 19 November 2025 as julle die byeenkoms gaan bywoon.

Ons hoop om julle almal vir oulaas vir die jaar by die jaarafsluiting te sien.

Genealogiese groete
Takbestuur
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Northwest Branch Members and Friends

The year is over, and our year-end get-together is knocking on the door.

For the year-end, we invite you and your companion to join us for a picnic on the President's lawn on the 22nd of November at 10:00. (Please note that the date has moved from the 8th to the 22nd of November.) Johan Wolfaardt will be giving a lecture and a guided tour of the President Pretorius Museum. Please bring your own picnic basket and a chair or blanket to sit on.

For logistical reasons, please RSVP to ggsanw.info@gmail.com by 19 November 2025 if you will be attending the event.

We hope to see you all one last time this year at our year-end get-together.

Genealogical greetings
Branch Management

14/11/2025

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️
Het jy al jou swart-en-wit foto fotoverhaal vir ons Venster op gister fotoverhaal kompetisie in geskryf? Moenie jou kans mis nie—stuur jou fotoverhaal in en laat die tydlose krag van swart en wit jou familie se stem laat voortleef. Inskrywings besonderhede is beskikbaar by die volgende skakel: https://forms.gle/XWAtW3cCnrrQcdUi7

Hier is 'n goeie voorbeeld van 'n fotoverhaal vanaf ons eerste inskrywing deur Elmarie Weyers as jy nog 'n idee kort.

Titel: As 'n foto net kon praat
Teen my gangmuur hang die enigste foto van my oupa aan moederskant, Hendrik Jacobus GRIESSEL. Bittermin is oor hom bekend en dit laat my met soveel onbeantwoorde vrae. As hierdie foto maar net kon praat!

Daar is twee redes waarom daar so min inligting oor hom bestaan. My ma, Hester Aletta SLABBER (néé GRIESSEL) (*Molteno 1931.02.05 +Potchefstroom 2023.09.24) was maar ses maande toe haar 38-jarige pa op 13 Augustus 1931 te Burgersdorp aan ŉ niersiekte oorlede is. My ouma, Elizabeth Margaretha GRIESSEL (néé) VAN HEERDEN (*Cradock? 1887.02.09 +Hartebeesfontein 1983.06.06) het ook nie graag oor haar verlede gepraat nie. Al wat sy aan my ma genoem het, was dat haar pa op 27 November 1891 gebore is, dat sy ouers vroeg oorlede is en dat hy by ŉ familielid grootgeword het.

Om ons Griessel-voorgeslagtelyn te bepaal, het ek na my oupa se doopinskrywing gaan soek. In die NGK Barrydale-doopregister, gedateer 1 Februarie 1892, ontdek ek die volgende inskrywing :
“Onecht Kind
Kind – Hendrik Jacobus Griessel geb. 27 Nov 1891
Moeder – Sara Susanna van Zijl”

Die woord “onecht” en die feit dat geen vader genoem word nie, het by my ŉ lig laat opgaan. Was die stigma wat in die 1800’s aan buite-egtelike kinders gekleef het moontlik die rede waarom my stigtelike ouma oor haar eggenoot se herkoms geswyg het? Die doopregister het my met bykomende vrae gelaat. Waarom doop die moeder haar kind GRIESSEL en gebruik sy nie haar VAN ZYL-nooiensvan as van nie? Ten spyte van ŉ deurtastende ondersoek, loop die spoor na my Griessel-voorgeslagte egter net daar dood.

My ouma se huweliksertifikaat gedateer 19 Junie 1929 in die NGK Molteno het tot verdere verwarring gelei. Sy trou op die ouderdom van 42-jaar vir die eerste keer. Op die huweliksertifikaat word haar ouderdom as 39 aangedui. Was die feit dat sy met ŉ heelwat jonger man getrou en sensitief oor haar ouderdom was, die rede vir die foutiewe inskrywing? Die ironie is dat dié verkeerde inligting daartoe gelei het dat verkeerde koppelinge op die familieboom op die webblad: https://familysearch.org gemaak is.

Nie eers Hendrik se sterfkennisgewing (gedateer 21 September 1931) wat deur my ouma onderteken is, het enige leidrade oor sy ouers gegee nie. Hulle word slegs as onbekend aangedui.

Intussen hang die foto steeds sonder antwoorde in my gang.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have you submitted your black-and-white photo story for our Window on Yesterday photo story competition yet? Don’t miss your chance — send in your photo story and let the timeless power of black and white help your family’s voice live on. Entry details are available at the following link: https://forms.gle/fVARHkKG5Ppma22q6

Here is a good example of a photo story from our first entry by Elmarie Weyers, if you still need some inspiration.

On my hallway wall hangs the only photo of my maternal grandfather, Hendrik Jacobus GRIESSEL. Very little is known about him, and it leaves me with so many unanswered questions. If only this photo could speak!

There are two reasons why so little information about him exists. My mother, Hester Aletta SLABBER (née GRIESSEL) (*born Molteno 1931.02.05, +Potchefstroom 2023.09.24) was only six months old when her 38-year-old father passed away from a kidney disease on 13 August 1931 in Burgersdorp. My grandmother, Elizabeth Margaretha GRIESSEL (née VAN HEERDEN) (*born Cradock? 1887.02.09, +Hartebeesfontein 1983.06.06) also did not like to speak about her past. All she ever told my mother was that her father was born on 27 November 1891, that his parents died young, and that he was raised by a relative.

To determine our Griessel ancestral line, I went searching for my grandfather’s baptism record. In the NGK Barrydale baptism register, dated 1 February 1892, I discovered the following entry:
“Onecht Kind
Kind – Hendrik Jacobus Griessel geb. 27 Nov 1891
Moeder – Sara Susanna van Zijl”

The word “onecht” and the fact that no father was named made something click for me. Could the stigma attached to children born out of wedlock in the 1800s have been the reason why my very proper grandmother kept silent about her husband’s origins? The baptism register left me with further questions. Why did the mother baptise her child as GRIESSEL, and not use her maiden name VAN ZIJL as his surname? Despite thorough research, the trail of my Griessel ancestors goes cold at this point.

My grandmother’s marriage certificate, dated 19 June 1929 in the NGK Molteno, added to the confusion. She married for the first time at the age of 42. Yet on the marriage certificate her age is recorded as 39. Was the incorrect entry perhaps because she married a significantly younger man and felt sensitive about her age? The irony is that this incorrect information resulted in wrong connections being made on the family tree on the website https://familysearch.org.

Not even Hendrik’s death notice (dated 21 September 1931), signed by my grandmother, provided any clues about his parents. They are simply listed as unknown.

Meanwhile, the photo still hangs in my hallway — without answers.

30/10/2025

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️

🌿 VENSTER OP GISTER 🌿
’n Foto. ’n Verhaal. ’n Familie-erfenis.

Die Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika se Noordwestak nooi u uit om deel te neem aan ons Fotoverhaal-kompetisie: Venster op Gister!

📷 Grawe ’n swart-en-wit of sepia-foto uit jou herinneringsboks en vertel die genealogiese storie van die mense, plek of items daarin. Jou foto én storie vorm saam ’n waardevolle venster op jou familie se verlede.

✨ Hoekom deelneem?
• Staan ’n kans om een van die top drie pryse te wen!
• Jou fotoverhaal word bewaar op die Genza-platform, sodat toekomstige geslagte dit kan lees en waardeer.
• Jy help om Suid-Afrika se ryk familie-erfenis lewendig te hou.

🖋️ Belangrike besonderhede:
• Enigeen kan deelneem, en jy kan soveel inskrywings instuur as jy wil.
• Inskrywingsfooi: R50 per inskrywing
• Sluitingsdatum: 30 November 2025
• Wenners word vroeg in 2026 aangekondig.

💌 Vrae of navrae?
Stuur ’n e-pos aan: ggsanw.info@gmail.com
👉 Klik hier om in te skryf: https://forms.gle/XWAtW3cCnrrQcdUi7

Krap daai foto’s uit, skryf jou storie neer – en wys vir ons jou venster op gister. 🌿

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
🌿 WINDOW ON YESTERDAY 🌿
A photo. A story. A family legacy.

The Genealogical Society of South Africa's North West Branch proudly invites you to take part in our photo story competition: Window on Yesterday!

📷 Dig out a black and white or sepia photo from your memory box and tell the genealogical story of the people, place or items in it. Your photo and story together form a precious glimpse into your family’s past.

✨ Why participate?
• Stand a chance to win one of the top three prizes!
• Your photo story will be preserved on the Genza platform so that future generations can discover and appreciate it.
• You’ll help keep South Africa’s rich family heritage alive.

🖋️ Competition details:
• Anyone may enter — and you can submit as many entries as you like.
• Entry fee: R50 per submission
• Closing date: 30 November 2025
• Winners will be announced early in 2026.

💌 Questions or queries?
Email: ggsanw.info@gmail.com
👉 Enter here: https://forms.gle/fVARHkKG5Ppma22q6

Dust off those photos, write down those stories, and show us your window into yesterday. 🌿

30/10/2025

‼️ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS‼️

Beste Noordwestaklede en Vriende

Die jaar is op sy rug en ons jaar afsluiting klop aan die deur.
Vir die jaarafsluiting nooi ons u en u metgesel uit om saam met ons piekniek te kom hou op die President se grasperk op die 22ste November om 10:00. (Neem kennis dat die datum geskuif het van die 8ste na die 22ste November.) Johan Wolfaardt gaan 'n lesing gee en ook 'n begeleide toer doen van die President Pretorius Museum. Bring asb. jou eie piekniek mandjie en 'n stoel of kombers om op te sit.

Ons hoop om julle almal vir oulaas vir die jaar by die jaarafsluiting te sien.

Genealogiese groete
Takbestuur
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Northwest Branch Members and Friends

The year is over, and our year-end get-together is knocking on the door.

For the year-end, we invite you and your companion to join us for a picnic on the President's lawn on the 22nd of November at 10:00. (Please note that the date has moved from the 8th to the 22nd of November.) Johan Wolfaardt will be giving a lecture and a guided tour of the President Pretorius Museum. Please bring your own picnic basket and a chair or blanket to sit on.

We hope to see you all one last time this year at our year-end get-together.

Genealogical greetings
Branch Management

15/10/2025

ENGLISH FOLLOWS AFRIKAANS
🌿 VENSTER OP GISTER 🌿
’n Foto. ’n Verhaal. ’n Familie-erfenis.

Die Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika se Noordwestak nooi u uit om deel te neem aan ons Fotoverhaal-kompetisie: Venster op Gister!

📷 Neem ’n swart-en-wit of sepia-foto en vertel die genealogiese storie agter die beeld — die mense, plek of items daarin. Jou foto én storie vorm saam ’n waardevolle venster op jou familie se verlede.

✨ Hoekom deelneem?
• Staan ’n kans om een van die top drie pryse te wen!
• Jou fotoverhaal word bewaar op die Genza-platform, sodat toekomstige geslagte dit kan lees en waardeer.
• Jy help om Suid-Afrika se ryk familie-erfenis lewendig te hou.

🖋️ Belangrike besonderhede:
• Enigeen kan deelneem, en jy kan soveel inskrywings instuur as jy wil.
• Inskrywingsfooi: R50 per inskrywing
• Sluitingsdatum: 30 November 2025
• Wenners word vroeg in 2026 aangekondig.

💌 Vrae of navrae?
Stuur ’n e-pos aan: ggsanw.info@gmail.com

👉 Klik hier om in te skryf: https://forms.gle/XWAtW3cCnrrQcdUi7
🎞️ Kyk ook na ons inspirasievideo hieronder – dalk lê jou wenfoto reeds in daardie ou foto-album!

Krap daai foto’s uit, skryf jou storie neer – en wys vir ons jou venster op gister. 🌿

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
🌿 WINDOW ON YESTERDAY 🌿
A photo. A story. A family legacy.

The Genealogical Society of South Africa's North West Branch proudly invites you to take part in our photo story competition: Window on Yesterday!

📷 Take a black-and-white or sepia photo and tell the genealogical story behind the image — the people, the place, or the objects captured in time. Your photo and story together form a precious glimpse into your family’s past.

✨ Why participate?
• Stand a chance to win one of the top three prizes!
• Your photo story will be preserved on the Genza platform so that future generations can discover and appreciate it.
• You’ll help keep South Africa’s rich family heritage alive.

🖋️ Competition details:
• Anyone may enter — and you can submit as many entries as you like.
• Entry fee: R50 per submission
• Closing date: 30 November 2025
• Winners will be announced early in 2026.

💌 Questions or queries?
Email: ggsanw.info@gmail.com

👉 Enter here: https://forms.gle/fVARHkKG5Ppma22q6
🎞️ Watch the inspiration video below — maybe your winning photo is already hiding in that old album!

Dust off those photos, write down those stories, and show us your window into yesterday. 🌿

Address

C/o Sol Plaatjie Avenue, Wolmarans St
Potchefstroom
2531

Website

https://genza.org.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when GGSA Noordwestak posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Potchefstroom?

GGSA Noordwestak

17/02/2026

17/02/2026

17/02/2026

25/12/2025

29/11/2025

15/11/2025

14/11/2025

30/10/2025

30/10/2025

15/10/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category