SA Boerboktelersvereniging / SA Boer Goat Breeders' Society

The Founding of the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Society - 1959

When mention is made of the founding of the SA Boer Goat Breeders’ Society in 1959 and the time before that, three people come to mind, Mr Theunis Jordaan, also known as TB Jordaan from Buffelsfontein, Somerset East; Mr Theunis Botha from Grootfontein, Somerset East; and Mr Theunis Kruger from Dirkskraal in Somerset East. A lively interest in the Boer goat had already inspired Mr Botha in 1950 to get in touch with these men to investigate the possibility of founding a Boer goat breeders’ society.

After careful consideration they realised that the timing was not right, since there were not enough breeders with the desired breeding material. So they decided against it. Three other farmers, unbeknown to one another, met Mr Kruger in 1959 also to discuss the possibility of establishing a breeders’ society. They where Messrs Piet van Dyk, later of Doornkraal, Middelburg, Cape, Syce Botha of Roodekranz, Somerset East, and Corrie Oberholtser from the Northern Cape.

This common wish revived Mr Kruger’s idea and he advertised in different agricultural newspapers that a founding meeting for a Boer goat breeders’ society would be held in Somerset East on 4 July 1959. His enthusiasm was rewarded when 16 people pitched up for this meeting. A committee was appointed to draft breed standards and a constitution; both were accepted at a subsequent meeting on 16 October 1959.