The Founding of the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Society - 1959

When mention is made of the founding of the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Society in 1959 and the time before that, three people come to mind, Mr Theunis Jordaan, also known as TB Jordaan from Buffelsfontein, Somerset East; Mr Theunis Botha from Grootfontein, Somerset East; and Mr Theunis Kruger from Dirkskraal in Somerset East. A lively interest in the Boer goat had already inspired Mr Botha in 1950 to get in touch with these men to investigate the possibility of founding a Boer goat breeders’ society.

After careful consideration they realised that the timing was not right, since there were not enough breeders with the desired breeding material. So they decided against it. Three other farmers, unbeknown to one another, met Mr Kruger in 1959 also to discuss the possibility of establishing a breeders’ society. They where Messrs Piet van Dyk, later of Doornkraal, Middelburg, Cape, Syce Botha of Roodekranz, Somerset East, and Corrie Oberholtser from the Northern Cape.

This common wish revived Mr Kruger’s idea and he advertised in different agricultural newspapers that a founding meeting for a Boer goat breeders’ society would be held in Somerset East on 4 July 1959. His enthusiasm was rewarded when 16 people pitched up for this meeting. A committee was appointed to draft breed standards and a constitution; both were accepted at a subsequent meeting on 16 October 1959.

Die Stigting van die SA Boerboktelersvereniging - 1959

Wanneer van die stigting van die S.A. Boerboktelersvereniging in 1959 en die tydperk wat dit vooraf gegaan het gepraat word, word daar onmiddellik aan drie persone gedink, wyle Mnr Theunis Jordaan of te wel mnr. T B Jordaan van Buffelsfontein, Somerset-Oos, Mnr Theunis Botha van Grootfontein, Somerset-Oos, en Mnr Theunis Kruger van Dirkskraal in Somerset-Oos.

Die intense belangstelling in die Boerbok het Mnr Botha aangespoor om reeds in 1950 met voorvermelde naamgenote te skakel om die moontlikheid vir die stigting van ‘n Boerboktelersvereniging te ondersoek. Na noukeurige beraadslaging het hulle egter daarteen besluit omdat die tyd nog nie ryp was vir die stigting van so ‘n vereniging nie, omdat daar te min telers met die gewenste teelmateriaal was. In 1959 nader drie ander boere mnr. Kruger, sonder dat hulle van mekaar weet om weer die moontlikheid vir die stigting van’n telersvereniging te bespreek. Hulle was mnre. Piet van Dyk, later van Doornkraal Middelburg kaap, Syce Botha van Roodekranz, Somerset-Oos en Corrie Oberholtser van Noord-Kaap.

Hierdie gemeenskaplike strewe gee mnr. Kruger nuwe moed en hy adverteer in landbounuusblaaie dat ‘n stigtingsvergadering vir ‘n Boerboktelersvereniging op 4 Julie 1959 op Somerset-Oos gehou sal word. Hy word beloon vir sy ywer want 16 persone woon die vergadering by en ‘n komitee word aangewys om rasstandaarde en ‘n konstitusie op te stel. By ‘n latere vergadering gehou op 16 Oktober 1959, is die rasstandaarde en konstitusie goedgekeur en ‘n bestuur verkies.