This book, published in Afrikaans, is a guide to a particular section of the old cemetery in Pietermaritzburg. The south western part of the old cemetery, situated on either side of Commercial Road, is known as the Voortrekker Cemetery and is part of the greater Commercial Road Cemetery. This part is the city’s oldest cemetery.

The indexed book covers about 75 graves and contains photographs of gravestones, people and buildings, with biographical and historical information. A map of the cemetery is included. The soft cover book has 80 pages on gloss paper. It is well laid out and makes a fascinating journey of discovery.

Although most of the graves are of Voortrekkers and their descendants, there are some people in the book who were not Voortrekkers but made a contribution to Afrikaans cultural life. They include Germans, Scots, Englishmen and Jews. The oldest grave is believed to be that of Hendrik VAN DEN BERG who died in September 1839. Some of the cemetery’s famous residents include Louis Gustavus TREGARDT (son of Louis TREGARDT, Voortrekker leader) and Charles KESTELL (born in Wales and father of John Daniel KESTELL who translated the Bible into Afrikaans).

Louis Eksteen is the curator at Fort Amiel Museum in Newcastle, and chairman of the Natal Voortrekker Graves and Monuments Committee. The research for this book was done from 1996 to 2003 when he was a researcher at the Voortrekker Museum in Pietermaritzburg.

Publisher: Natalse Voortrekkergrafte en -Monumentekomitee, Pietermaritzburg, 2004

ISBN 0-620-31680-2

Order from: L.J. Eksteen, P.O. Box 15600, Arbor Park, Newcastle, 2954

E-mail: [email protected]

Tags: voortrekkers