John Clark Collection
A picture of Marthinius Jacobus Oosthuizen, hero of the defense of Rensburgkopje. At the time of the Bloukrans massacres, some families were taken unawares in this area near Eskort. The survivors escaped to this steep kopje beside the river called the Malan Spruit and there defended themselves with their guns against 1500 Zulus. In all, there were 14 men and 20 women and children of the van Rensburg and Pretorius families. After an hour of firing they realised that their ammunition was nearly exhausted and the end seemed inevitable.Oosthuizen, then a young man, was not of of the party but was looking for a stray horse. Hearing the shooting, he came over a ridge and realised what was happening. From a distance he contacted the defenders and by signals learned that there was spare powdwe in the Pretorius wagons. Spurring his horse, he made his way throughthe Zulus, killing by chance the Zulu commander with one of his shots. He found the gunpowder and also the little daughter of the van Rensburgs. On his way back the Zulus managed to pull the child from his grasp, killing her, but Oosthuizen got through to the defenders with the powder. Thereafter, the Zulus lost heart and retired. See the powder. Thereafter, the Zulus lost heart and retired. See the voortrekker Museum, Pietermaritzburg, for the full story. (Ref. Memorial Unveiling Pamphlet 1968 by G.C. Chadwick)