Jacobus Pieter Steyn.pdf - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Verder het die dorp ses Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk-gemeentes.
Kultuuraktiwiteite op Despatch is volop. Die ontwikkeling van Despatch het ook
gesorg vir die ontwikkeling van die Despatch rugbyklub, wat op sy beurt weer
talle spelers van internasionale standaard opgelewer het. Danie Gerber en
Rassie Erasmus is albei afkomstig van Despatch. Die wêreldbekende
krieketskeidsregter, Rudi Koertzen, is ook ʼn Despatcher.
Die kulturele bedrywighede op Despatch is kensketsend van die sterk Afrikaanse
karakter van die dorp. Die sterk Afrikanerkarakter van Despatch word uitgebeeld
in die vieringe van feeste soos Heldedag, Dingaansdagfeeste, Van
Riebeeckdagfeeste, Heldeaande, Volkspele en Geloftedagfeeste. Kultuurfeeste
is reeds van 1930 op Despatch gehou.
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The focus of this study will be on the history of the white Afrikaans speaking
community of Despatch from 1945 – 1995. After the inauguration of the
democratic government in South Africa, processes that changed the boundaries
of the cities were set in motion. Consequently, Pretoria and surrounding cities
became known as Tswane, whilst Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch
became known as the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality or the NMMM.
Although the NMMM was officially established in 2000, the processes of change
were set in motion in 1995, effectively ending the autonomy of Despatch.
Despatch is one of the youngest towns in South Africa (situated on the doorstep
of one of the oldest towns in South Africa – Uitenhage). The lifespan of the
municipality of Despatch was brief and only comprised 50 years.
Before being granted official municipal status this settlement played a pivotal role
within the Port Elizabeth / Uitenhage area. The brickworks which were founded
on the banks of the Swartkops River was during its time one of the most modern
in Southern Africa. The high quality bricks it produced ensured the erection of a
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