South African Researcher

Family history and genealogy

A gentleman’s game: South Africa’s first cricket games

The British annexation of the Cape in 1795 introduced cricket to South Africa. It is believed that Charles ANGUISH, who had played for Surrey and Middlesex, might have swung a cricket bat after being appointed Comptroller of the Customs at Read more…


The Century Club – celebrating a long life

Piet SCHOLTZ celebrated his 101st birthday on the 4th of Jan 2007 at the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie retirement home in Zeerust. He was married to Christina for more than 60 years before she passed away. They had five children. He has Read more…


An aviation pioneer that led the way

The first South African woman to volunteer for full-time war service was Phyllis Doreen DUNNING (maiden name HOOPER), who did so on June 1, 1940. Doreen passed away on August 26, 2008, in Howick, South Africa, at the age of Read more…


A look at Germiston’s early history

It is claimed that Johan Georg MEYER (1816-1856) bought the farm Elandsfontein in exchange for an ox-wagon. He had trekked up from Prince Albert in 1835 with the Andries Hendrik POTGIETER trek. He staked out three farms: Kliprivier, Elandsfontein and Read more…


Walking through Primrose Cemetery in Germiston

Primrose Cemetery in Germiston dates back to 1893. It is the second oldest cemetery in the greater Johannesburg region, after Braamfontein Cemetery. Its 20,000+ graves tell the stories of the early gold mining days, an Anglo-Boer War battle, the 1914 Read more…


The Titanic and its South African Connections

On 17 April 2007, my original article on the Titanic and its South African connections was published by News24. Since then, various media, societies, and individuals have used the article in their publications, websites, and articles. One hundred and thirteen Read more…