South Africa: Nicobar, Fanny, Flora & William Bayley shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

Fukuseki Maru No. 7 shipwreck in Namibia

July 11:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1783: Nicobar, this Danish East Indiaman was on its way from Copenhagen to the far east when it wrecked off Quoin Point in the Western Cape after encountering a north-westerly gale. Only 11 people survived. It was stripped at the time by local farmers after permission was given by the local Swellendam commandant, Jacob van Reenen. In 1987, two spear-fishermen found the remains whilst fishing. Today, its 12 cast iron cannons can still be seen at the site. 

1810: A storm off Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape resulted in the wrecking of two vessels: 

• Fanny, a wooden-hulled brig trading wood; and

• Flora, a wooden-hulled transport vessel 

1857: William Bayley, this wooden-hulled brig had to be run ashore after its cargo spontaneously combusted, and so it was wrecked in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape. 

1985: A Beechcraft B58 Baron (registration No. 9Q-CJR) went missing on this day in severe weather between Robertson and Cape Town in the Western Cape. The pilot had lied about his instrument rating to Approach Control the previous day as he would not have been allowed to fly on visuals given the severe mist. It is assumed that the plane either crashed into a remote part of the mountains in the Western Cape between Robertson and Cape Town or that the pilot’s bearings were completely off, and the plane instead flew over the ocean and ran out of fuel before being able to make it back to land on visual flight alone. To this day, the location of the plane is unknown.

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South Africa: Emile Marie, James Gibson, Verulam shipwrecks & air accidents

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 7:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1874: The south-westerly gale that battered the Eastern Cape coastline for two days, continued into this day, claiming its final three victims in the Eastern Cape: 

• Emile Marie, this wooden sailing barque wrecked near Bonza Bay in East London. 

• James Gibson, this wooden sailing barque wrecked at Cape Henderson, near Haga-Haga. The rescuers of the Nova Bella, which wrecked the previous day, thought that the James Gibson might be refloated having been run aground in a calmer spot, but this was not the case. 

• Verulam, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on the west bank of the Buffalo River in East London.

2009: An SA Airlink Embraer 135LR (registration no. ZS-SJW) crashed outside of the George Airport in in the Western Cape after aquaplaning after touching down. The runway it landed on had recently been refurbished and it was the first time that the area experiences proper rain, with the assumption of the report being that the fog spray sealant that was applied degraded the surface friction coefficient during wet conditions. Of the 35 that were on board, no lives were lost but 10 people sustained injuries.

ZS-SJW after having aquaplaned and broken through the fence at the George Airport and coming to rest on a public road

2015: A Dixco Transport Eclipse 500 (registration no. ZS-DKS) was on its way from Kuruman to its home base in Cape Town, with just the pilot (who was also the owner) of the aircraft on board, when it crashed 33 km south west of Swellendam in the Western Cape. The pilot detoured to Lanseria for a refuel and when near Kimberley, was observed making erratic flight procedures, such as four 360 degree right hand turns at speeds of up to 400 knots.

An EMR private ambulance helicopter tending to some of the widespread wreckage of ZS-DKS in a field between Swellendam and Bredasdorp

A SAAF SAAB Gripen supersonic military jet from the Overberg base intercepted the aircraft but could not ascertain whether the pilot was conscious or not before the aircraft spiraled towards the ground and impacted the terrain killing the pilot between Bredasdorp and Swellendam in the Western Cape.

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South Africa: Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Cape Town

Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve

This Reserve is visited by thousands of people daily during the holiday season. It is administered by the Divisional Council.

Apparently it is everyone's ambition to see Cape Point, certainly a worthy one, but by no means all that the Nature Reserve offers. The great majority of visitors pay the small admission fee at the gate, take a copy of the pamphlet, drive to Cape Point, visit the Homestead Restaurant, and leave.

They complain that they did not catch a glimpse of a single animal mentioned in the pamphlet, except for a few baboons.

To see other animals you must drive slowly, take a side road or two, be observant and patient.

The area is not what is was in the year 1600, when elephant, lion and hippo were common, and herds used to migrate, but there are ostriches and many hoofed animals, including bontebok, of which only about 60 are left in the world, and these are found only near Swellendam through the Bontebok Park to this Reserve.

The roads have to be tarred, otherwise dust caused by traffic would destroy the vegetation. But tarred roads encourage motorists to violate the speed limit of 40 km per hour, and speedsters sometimes kill animals. In one case seven young ostriches were killed by a single motorist. Evidently he did it deliberately, riding them down in sequence.

The large number of visitors implies a need for a high level of self-discipline and vigilance. During the holiday season, 20 labourers work full time cleaning up litter. A Reserve official tells a tale of an antelope with a tin can over its hoof and the wound going septic, and of another on post-mortem found to have a plastic bag in its stomach.

What irritates Reserve officials most is people who insist on feeding baboons despite all notice to the contrary. You might not be a qualified expert on these animals but try to imagine a baboon which during a single day is approached by at least 500 people with chocolates, potato crisps, ice cream, pop corn, bubble gum, cellophane wrappers and heaven knows what else. It is not surprising that on post-mortem examination the animal shows stomach disorders, bad teeth and abnormal hair.

Baboons that are fed lose their fear of man. They attack and bite people, and enter cars that are left unlocked. A baboon can grasp a half-open window pane and break it.

Dogs are not allowed in the Reserve, but can be accommodated at the gate.

The map handed out at the gate is instructive. Several peaks along the east coast of the Reserve can be ascended on foot for unforgettable views. The west coast is excellent for strolls.

There are two lighthouses at Cape Point, an old one whose light was too often hidden by fog, and a new one at a lower level where the fog is less severe. Some local tourist literature claims that the latter is the most powerful lighthouse in the world. This is doubtful. The Guinness Book of Records mentions a lighthouse in Ile d'Ouessant at Finistere in France which is almost 80 times as strong.

Braais can be held at countless places. At any particular spot, remember to check whether fires are permitted, water is available and toilets accessible. Sometimes free firewood is provided.

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South Africa: Ruins off the Swellendam to Bredasdorp road

The Cape's threatened buildings

Ruins off the Swellendam to Bredasdorp road (R319), Overberg

A ruined farmstead off the R319 between Swellendam and Bredasdorp, Overberg. Found on the Muurkraal/Witdam road, there is a ruined, fairly deep three-bay farmhouse built of mud bricks and what looks like an older barn (or longhouse) that is built of beautiful stonework up to lintel-height, then topped with mud bricks.

The exposed wall fabric reveals various stages of development, and the stonework appears to have a join at centre, suggesting the barn was doubled in length fairly early on. It may once have been thatched, but its corrugated iron roof has lasted longer, thereby protecting the now collapsing walls. But only until the roof, which is precariously perching on the walls, collapses too.

Matthias Streicher: Old Jan “Motsak” Swart owned the farm and built these houses. The story goes that there lived two spinster sisters, both got sick from TB. In those days people believed that the TB germs stayed in the building for years. So when these two ladies moved out no one moved in again.

My great grandfather bought the farm in the 1940’s. The photo above with the thatch roof still on was taken by my grandfather in the 60’s. My father sold it to the Human family in 1999. Both my aunt and my neighbour Mr. Human had there wedding photos taken at the old barn.

So it is still cherished in a way. P.S. We don’t think of it as remote, it is just about 15 minutes drive from town. We have lived here all our lives. But we know that it must have been a different story for forefathers and mothers.

I thought perhaps that Elim would be a good benchmark and checked now, but I wonder if this farmhouse would go back quite that far (1820 to 1850ish). 

This part of the world feels quite remote to me now – I wonder what it must have felt like to live there in the 1800s! Especially if someone became very ill or another tragedy struck…

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