JAN SMUTS COMMEMORATION AT RIEBEEK WEST

Greig Stewart

Abstract

The Cape commemoration of Jan Smuts’ birthday took place on Sunday 18 May 2025, at his birthplace on the farm Bovenplaats, near Riebeek West. The parade, organised by the M.O.T.H. Blaauwberg Cuca Shellhole, was held in the grounds of the Smuts Museum.

Keywords

• Chris Murphy
• Gabriël ‘Gawie’ Fagan
• General Jan Smuts Regiment (previously Regiment Westelike Provincie)
• Leon van der Westhuizen (Bomb Alley Shellhole).
• Lt-Col. Ndimphiwe Fikizolo, Commanding Officer of General Jan Smuts Regiment (previously Regiment Westelike Provincie)
• M.O.T.H. Blaauwberg Cuca Shellhole
• M.O.T.H. Bomb Alley Shellhole
• M.O.T.H. Cape Western Provincial Dugout
• Paul Bowins, representing the M.O.T.H. Cape Western Provincial Dugout.
• Regiment Westelike Provincie (RWP)
• Smuts, JC
• Steven Strauss of Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC)
• Union Defence Force

The Cape commemoration of Jan Smuts’ birthday took place on Sunday 18 May 2025, at his birthplace on the farm Bovenplaats, near Riebeek West. The parade, organised by the M.O.T.H. Blaauwberg Cuca Shellhole, was held in the grounds of the Smuts Museum.

Dignitaries included Lt-Col. Ndimphiwe Fikizolo, Commanding Officer of General Jan Smuts Regiment (previously Regiment Westelike Provincie), Steven Strauss of Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC), and Paul Bowins, representing the M.O.T.H. Cape Western Provincial Dugout.

Regiment Westelike Provincie (RWP) was raised by the Union Defence Force on 1 April 1934, and presented with regimental colours by King George VI on 31 March 1947 during the visit of the royal family to South Africa. Field-Marshall Jan Smuts was appointed Colonel-In-Chief of the regiment from 17 September 1948, a post he held until his death. The regiment was renamed the General Jan Smuts Regiment in August 2019.

The Cape Portland Cement company bought the Smuts farm in 1946, and established a cement plant there in 1956. The first kiln went into operation in January 1960. Pretoria Portland Cement, which bought Cape Portland Cement in 1977, commissioned renowned architect Gabriël ‘Gawie’ Fagan to restore Jan Smuts’ birthplace in 1986.

Photos courtesy of Chris Murphy (http://www.christopherjphoto.com), Deon van den Berg (Blaauwberg Cuca Shellhole) and Leon van der Westhuizen (Bomb Alley Shellhole).

Jan Smuts Regiment – Deon van den Berg.jpg. – The Jan Smuts Regiment represented the SA Army.

Arrival – Chris Murphy.jpg. – Representatives of various M.O.T.H. Shellholes arrive

Banners – Chris Murphy.jpg. – The parade commences.

Colours – Leon van der Westhuizen.jpg. – The colours of the M.O.T.H. Shellholes represented at the parade.

Toast – Deon van den Berg.jpg – the traditional toast is drunk in the Regiment Westelike Provincie’s bespoke RWP brandy, first bottled in 1936.