I'm so glad you enjoyed the episode, Mercia. Please browse my channel some more. I've done episodes on all sorts of South African subjects from fossils to slap chips.
Very interesting petroglyphs. About the treaty of Vereeniging, bringing to and end the 1899-1902 Boer War: Although the treaty is named after the town of Vereeniging in Transvaal, where the peace negotiations took place, the document was actually signed at Melrose House in Pretoria. Interestingly, the town of Vereeniging is named after Sammy Marks' company: "Zuid-Afrikaansche en Oranje Vrijstaatsche Mineralen en Mijnbouwvereeniging"
Excellent. I share your feelings as to this site being preserved. There is certainly no desire or inclination by the current political powers to preserve this heritage, so it is up to the citizens and private enterprise.
Thanks for your comment. I agree. All the sites are showing signs of neglect. Hopefully this video will help spread the word before the rock art disappears.
Please include the Witkop blockhouse in your travels. I clambered all over it in younger days, from lying prone in one of the sunken firing positions, to the very rafters and the lookout, which was not re-built after the tornado took the roof off.
Hi Jeff, is that the blockhouse you can see from the highway? I definitely want to include more trips to Anglo-Boer war sites. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Al, please research a place called Driekopseiland. It lies just "off the highway" between Kimberley and Christiana, about 2 to 3km along the Plooysburg turn off. There are over 3000 rock engravings in the glaciated andesite bed of the Rietrivier. Around 90% of the engravings are also abstract and very simmilar in design to the ones shown in this video. It will be worth the effort.
I have been to all of the places you've shown us. I had to get permission from the local primary shool to gain access to the petroglyphs. I spent a lot of time in the museum, and visited the site of the peace negotiatios on the v d byl road, and even got access into the building. BTW, peace was negotiated there and signed in Melrose house Pretoria, just before midnight on 31st May 1902. I found the Sharpville memorial quite moving, with it's trickle of water berween the rows of pillars, each of which bears a plaque with a single name on it. Your vid shows long grass and neglect?
Hi Jeff, you're right about the signing of the treaty. My mistake. Unfortunately all the monuments have been sadly neglected, even the Sharpeville site. The water doesn't flow anymore. The museum is also badly run down. Staff members who actually work there are friendly and eager, but I'm guessing the money isn't reaching them.
Glad you enjoyed it! When you were growing up, were these rock paintings common knowledge? I'm only wondering, because so few people seem to have heard of them.
@@JustOfftheHighway hi Al, no, they were not common knowledge. I first learned about them when I spoke to the curator of the V town museum, a Mrs Deysel around 1980, regarding a site where stone implements were discovered. I did try to find the Redan petroglyph but was not successful. I really do enjoy you very interesting site visits. Al, have you been to the armoured train ambush where Winston Churchill was taken POW. The site is on the old Durban road between Colenso and Estcourt. Thanks again for your most interesting videos.
Thanks for your encouraging words! Those Redan petroglyphs are so powerful. They deserve to be preserved with much better care. Re the Churchill train, no I haven't been there. A visit is actually part of a trip I have tentatively planned for 2025. I've been wanting to go there ever since I read the book about his escape written by his ganddaughter.
Thanks for your comment. I love that you're enjoying "Just Off the Highway". Viewership is still small because it's my solo project without media/corporate backing, but we're growing steadily. If you enjoy the episodes, please spread the word. 👍
1971 declaired a national monument during apartheid..It shows how important it is. So instead of changing the names of roads,places etc. Use the money to protect and preserved places like this. Its so sad to see the History lost for future generations.
Hi, thanks for watching! Please hit "Subscribe" while you're here. And you can browse many more "Just Off the Highway" stories on this channel.
Thanks Al, loved this story. Take care and have an amazing festive season!
Thanks Theunis! I'm glad you like it. Wishing you and yours a safe and peaceful holiday.
Thanks Al, this is the first episode. Thank you for making me aware of such heritage.
I'm so glad you enjoyed the episode, Mercia. Please browse my channel some more. I've done episodes on all sorts of South African subjects from fossils to slap chips.
Brilliant! Proudly V-Town!
The place is full of surprises and special people. Thanks, Ryan!
Very interesting petroglyphs.
About the treaty of Vereeniging, bringing to and end the 1899-1902 Boer War:
Although the treaty is named after the town of Vereeniging in Transvaal, where the peace negotiations took place, the document was actually signed at Melrose House in Pretoria.
Interestingly, the town of Vereeniging is named after Sammy Marks' company:
"Zuid-Afrikaansche en Oranje Vrijstaatsche Mineralen en Mijnbouwvereeniging"
Thanks for the correction and added detail. I had read about how the town got its name, but missed the signing.
Once again an interesting topic and enough information to make me want to visit. Thanks for being the voice of the voiceless Al!
Pleasure, David! I hope you visit soon. Your photographic skill will really make those designs pop.
So proud of our little town "Vereeniging" with its rich history and heritage
Rightly so.
Thank You Al for your travels, interesting and beautiful people, places and things, Go Well till next time.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. All of the best to you too.
How very awesome Al. I lived in Joburg and had no idea that this monument was there
It's a place with a definite energy. Well worth a look. Thanks, Beryl!
It is really off the beaten track and i wd venture that very few people know of it.
Great episode , Al! Thank you.
Pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliment.
Thanks for this info. It must be shouted out. I never heard of it. And yes, it must be protected.
I agree 100%. Thanks.
Great content. Thanks!
Thanks very much. Glad you're enjoying. Please feel free to browse the other episodes.
cheers, Al, great story and well told, as usual 😊
Thanks, Rod! I appreciate the encouragement. I hope you get the opportunity to visit the place.
Excellent. I share your feelings as to this site being preserved. There is certainly no desire or inclination by the current political powers to preserve this heritage, so it is up to the citizens and private enterprise.
Thanks for your comment. I agree. All the sites are showing signs of neglect. Hopefully this video will help spread the word before the rock art disappears.
Please include the Witkop blockhouse in your travels. I clambered all over it in younger days, from lying prone in one of the sunken firing positions, to the very rafters and the lookout, which was not re-built after the tornado took the roof off.
Hi Jeff, is that the blockhouse you can see from the highway? I definitely want to include more trips to Anglo-Boer war sites. Thanks for your comment.
Fascinating Al.
Thanks!
Hi Al, please research a place called Driekopseiland. It lies just "off the highway" between Kimberley and Christiana, about 2 to 3km along the Plooysburg turn off.
There are over 3000 rock engravings in the glaciated andesite bed of the Rietrivier.
Around 90% of the engravings are also abstract and very simmilar in design to the ones shown in this video.
It will be worth the effort.
That sounds fascinating. I'll definitely research it. Thanks for the heads up. 🙏
So interesting. Thank you.
My pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you'll browse some of the other episodes as well.
Super interesting Al. Keep doing what you are doing. This will become a definitive resource for information on many important moments in our history.
Thanks for your gracious comment! I'm just connecting with the amazing stories that are already there.
I have been to all of the places you've shown us. I had to get permission from the local primary shool to gain access to the petroglyphs. I spent a lot of time in the museum, and visited the site of the peace negotiatios on the v d byl road, and even got access into the building. BTW, peace was negotiated there and signed in Melrose house Pretoria, just before midnight on 31st May 1902. I found the Sharpville memorial quite moving, with it's trickle of water berween the rows of pillars, each of which bears a plaque with a single name on it. Your vid shows long grass and neglect?
Hi Jeff, you're right about the signing of the treaty. My mistake. Unfortunately all the monuments have been sadly neglected, even the Sharpeville site. The water doesn't flow anymore. The museum is also badly run down. Staff members who actually work there are friendly and eager, but I'm guessing the money isn't reaching them.
Thank you very much for the intetesing informative video. Of particular interest to me as I was born at Redan.
Glad you enjoyed it! When you were growing up, were these rock paintings common knowledge? I'm only wondering, because so few people seem to have heard of them.
@@JustOfftheHighway hi Al, no, they were not common knowledge. I first learned about them when I spoke to the curator of the V town museum, a Mrs Deysel around 1980, regarding a site where stone implements were discovered. I did try to find the Redan petroglyph but was not successful. I really do enjoy you very interesting site visits. Al, have you been to the armoured train ambush where Winston Churchill was taken POW. The site is on the old Durban road between Colenso and Estcourt. Thanks again for your most interesting videos.
Thanks for your encouraging words! Those Redan petroglyphs are so powerful. They deserve to be preserved with much better care. Re the Churchill train, no I haven't been there. A visit is actually part of a trip I have tentatively planned for 2025. I've been wanting to go there ever since I read the book about his escape written by his ganddaughter.
Do you have a show on the dinasour footprints of Vereeniging *?
Hi, no this is the first I hear of them. Thanks for the tip. I'll do some research. Vereeniging turns out to be even more interesting.
There are more petrigraphs on a small rock island in the Vaal River upstream from the Ascot bridge
Thanks. I hope those are being preserved. Gives more weight to the theory that water plays an important part.
Why do more people not watch this show?
Thanks for your comment. I love that you're enjoying "Just Off the Highway". Viewership is still small because it's my solo project without media/corporate backing, but we're growing steadily. If you enjoy the episodes, please spread the word. 👍
1971 declaired a national monument during apartheid..It shows how important it is. So instead of changing the names of roads,places etc. Use the money to protect and preserved places like this. Its so sad to see the History lost for future generations.
Agreed. Real conservation vs cosmetic.
@@JustOfftheHighway Exactly.
Based on the rate of deterioration clearly not as old as stated. Max 300 years old.
Thanks for your certainty.
Bless Bridges ? Worth it ?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bonus info. 😎
Oh my!!! Sooo boring!!!!