In 1843 het n afwaardiging van 400 vroue by kommissaris Cloete protes aangeteken oor die anneksasie van die Republiek Natalia. Johanna Smit, suster van Gerrit Maritz en eggenote van eerw. Erasmus Smit, het by hierdie geleentheid gese: Liewer kaalvoet oor die Drakensberg as onder Britse vlag.
In 1843 a delegation of 400 women protested to commissioner Cloete against the annexation of the Republic of Natalia. Johanna Smit, sister of Gerrit Maritz and wife of hon. Erasmus Smit, declared at the gathering: Rather barefoot over the Drakensberg (mountains) than under the British flag.
If you ever want to visit the 'Barefoot lady' you would really have to want to. The sign to turn off is between Harrismith and Bergville, on the Alternate route R103. Opposite the Sterkfontein dam, which interesting enough is the second highest earth dam wall in the world. That means no concrete, bricks or steel, just stone and earth. (Correction done here)
Anyway, the sign reads Retief se Huis(Retief's house) and Retief se klip(Retief's stone). The first part of the sign; Retief se huis, is what I was going to drive 11km's to see. It turns out, to my great annoyance, the distance was actually 23km's one way, the road was barely suitable for a 4x4, and get this; there is no house!
I was very glad that I, by chance, met up with the barefoot lady. She was worth the visit, and we had a long chat about the wars, the concentration camps and of course, whether or not she ever did walk over the berg. If the internet wasn't off during the time I wrote this, I probably would have the answer for you.
I think, as tough as she was, tannie Smit would have smiled at the flowers I left her.
After arriving at the end of the road, with no House in sight, I called out to what I thought was someone approaching over the ridge. Felt rather stupid when I realised it was tannie Smit. (Yes, I blushed and looked around if anyone saw what happened!)
Get out there and see the beautiful country.
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