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Birth
Jacobus Johannes Janse van Rensburg was born 21 September 1828, and baptised at Tulbagh 26 October 1828, the son of Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg and Anna Dorothea SMIT, the family was then living in the Cold Bokkeveld (Ceres District), on the farm Tweefontein, he was their fifth son.

The family sold the farm Tweefontein on 28 December 1843. The family then moved to the Cradock area and obtained the farm Driefontein. This farm was registered in the family name on 19 March 1846. Jacobus Johannes got married on 6 July 1853 to Anna Maria PIETERSE, it appears that they had no children of their own, but raised the son of Paul Jacobus Janse van Rensburg and Elsie Cornelia FOUCHE since they apparently died soon after his birth. This son was also called Paul Jacobus Janse van Rensburg and was born 26 November 1873.

Jacobus Johannes co-inherited the family farm Driefontein and that is where he died and was buried.

The Afrikaners were not very much involved in political affairs and lived for their farming. Van Rensburg was one of the key people who brought political conscientiousness to the Boers. Up and until this stage the politics were dominated by the English speaking people who were mainly from three centres: Cape Town, Port Elisabeth and Grahamstown. On reflecting back to 1858 van Rensburg told the Boeren Vereeniging in 1882 "Grahamstown had most say in everything, and the country was almost entirely ruled by that town" Davenport, p 7.

There were two main organizations outside the church which gave expression to the Afrikaners: The Boeren Vereenigings and the Bond. Van Rensburg addressed a gathering in Middelburg since the Boers started to become interested in matters outside farming, and they were starting to demand a place on the political map. Davenport, p 23.

Van Rensburg was asked to chair the meeting to be held at Cradock between Bondsmen and the Boeren Vereenigingen on the 12 September 1882, this congress became known as Afrikaansche National Congres (don't confuse it with the latter African National Congress) Many testified to the superb way that van Rensburg handled the Cradock Congress, Davenport, p 7.

Once an amalgamation was formed, van Rensburg was voted as chair by a large majority. He thus served as the First chairman of the Afrikaner Bond from 1883 - 1886. His chairmanship was described in terms of "impartiality, patience and good humour", Davenport, p 58.

There is a photo of him in Davenport, p 73. He was buried in the family cemetery on the farm Driefontein and the following was written on his his tomb stone:

"Jacobus Johannes Janse van Rensburg

1828 - 1897

van Driefontein

Waardige ouderling vriend van die onderwys

lid van die distriksraad. LWV vir Craddock vanaf 1879

Kommandant Cradockse Burgers in laaste grensoorlog. De

onmisbaarste man in die gemeente."

He passed away 4 May 1897 at Cradock.

References
PFS Johannes Janse van Rensburg: Paper, Stamboom van Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg

JRH Davenport, The Afrikaner Bond

Maybe the documents below refers to him:
Depot KAB
Source MOOC
Type Leer
Vol No 6/9/401
System 01
Ref 1628
Part 1
Description van Rensburg, Jacobus Johannes Janse. Death Notice.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot KAB
Source MOOC
Type Leer
Vol No 13/1/963
System 01
Ref 60
Part 1
Description van Rensburg, Jacobus Johannes. Liquidation and distribution account.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot KAB
Type Accession
Ref A933
Description NAJ van Rensburg
Starting 1883 Ending 1911
Remarks Donor: NAJ van Rensburg, 1959; 0,04m; 1 vol.
Summary
+ Afrikaner Bond, Colesberg branch; Minutes 1883-1911; correspondence 1898-1911.
+ Letters received in Tokai Prison by NAJ van Rensburg from his son 1901-1902.

Duncan Ferguson an expert historian of Cradock lives at 89 Hospital St, Cradock, ph (048) 881-3206

andre@rensburg.com