Turffontein concentration camp decorated for tribute day | Rhewal

(Photo: Provided)

The Turffontein concentration camp in Mondeor outside Alberton in the south of Johannesburg was cleaned and beautified again this past weekend in the run-up to Concentration Camp Day.

This day is commemorated every year on June 16 after the British imperialist Lord Roberts announced the scorched earth policy on June 16, 1900.

However, the Turffontein concentration camp will be a gathering place for the first time this year where on 16 June tribute will be paid to the 716 women and children who died in this concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer War.

(Photo: Provided)

The Federation of Afrikaans Cultural Associations (FAK)’s East Rand Cultural Network and other volunteers therefore rolled up their sleeves on Saturday to beautify the concentration camp.

Barry Müller, culture coordinator of the FAK, says most heritage sites have deteriorated.

“It is now a daily phenomenon that the people in various communities have to intervene themselves to protect and preserve the beacons. I sincerely hope that more communities will start to intervene and take responsibility for our own heritage beacons.”

(Photo: Provided)

Rudolf Herbst, FF Plus East Rand council member and chairman of the East Rand Cultural Network, is also convinced that more and more volunteers will come forward as they become aware of this heritage site and “take co-ownership of it, so that we ensure it remains preserved for our descendants as well”.

• At the time, the scorched earth policy resulted in the large-scale burning of farms and the abduction of the population. Farms were burned to the ground, houses were destroyed and even all the livestock were killed. Women, children and the elderly were taken away and held in concentration camps, all a British tactic to break the Boers’ courage and thwart the guerilla warfare tactics.