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The Barefoot Woman Statue
This remarkable statue by sculptor Anton van Wouw of the Barefoot Woman just outside Bergville in Natal stands as a lasting inspiration for all with a desire for freedom.
In 1843, Susanna Maritz Smit, sister of trek leader Gert Maritz and wife of Erasmus Smit, led a group of 400 Voortrekker women to the commissioner of Natal, Henry Cloete, to show their displeasure with the British annexation of Natal.
It was during this meeting with Cloete that Susanna said: “We would rather walk back over the Drakensberg barefoot than be under British authority.”
These famous words were never put into action, however, as Susanna later died in Natal under British rule. Despite this sad fact, her timeless words remain a striking message to this day, with which the brave women of our nation use it as a yardstick to clearly demonstrate their perseverance. We were not present that day, but I believe that Cloete had to go change his diaper right after this.
The sacrifices of our people’s women during the Great Trek of 1836-1838, the First War of Independence of 1880-1881, the Second War of Independence of 1899-1902, the Rebellion of 1914, the Second World War of 1939-1945, the Border War of 1966-1989 and the New South Africa of 1994-now are all summed up in this single sentence.
Our brave Boer women would rather walk barefoot across the Drakensberg than be slaves in their homeland.
Brothers, rejoice and raise your hats! Here passes a parade of our nation’s brave women. It is a parade that stretches from far into the past to the present.
Leon Cornelius – But only human on FB
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