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For the Drakenstein Valley
References
The article is based on a series of newsreports that appeared in the Cape Times from 29 February to 1 March 1932
Summary
In 1932 a young man, George Africa, was trapped on a small ledge near Groot Sneeukop in the Drakenstein Mountains for five days and nights. The story gripped the town for days, attracted crowds of people to the farm Keerweder where they could watch the rescue's progress, and made headline news.
The route
A
footpath across this saddle north of Huguenot Buttress linked Worcester
and Paarl. A cairn was used as a rudimentary post office.
View from below
A view of the saddle from the farm Keerweder in Groot Drakenstein.
The rescue of George Africa
On Friday 26 February 1932 George Africa and Karel Maart set out from Worcester, across the Drakenstein Mountains to Paarl to look for work. They were fortunate and found work, then decided to walk back that same day to collect a few personal belongings. Halfway the weather turned, and afraid to continue in the thick mist they decided to return to Paarl. However, without any visual markers, they became disorientated and stumbled over the edge of a cliff. Karel Maart fell to his death. Fortunately George Africa managed to cling to a narrow ledge.
Day 1: George was now trapped on a ledge of 1m by 60 cm about 1,500m above sea level, without food, warm clothing or even water to drink.
Day 2: The newspaper does not say who noticed the young man trapped on the ledge, but the first rescue party went out on the Sunday. It was raining heavily, and they were forced to turn back.
Day 3: Monday morning and the rescue team once again climbed up the mountain to try another rescue attemp, but the rainy weather made the rescue too dangerous. So once more the party turned back.
Day 4: Tuesday morning, and a large rescue party sett off at 4 am from the Retief farm Keerweeder. The party consisted of five policemen, four volunteers, two labourers, and Mr AP Retief as a guide. The party took and hour and a half to reach Hoendervoetjie Kloof. They found the mutilated body of Karel Maart - he had broken his neck. They could hear someone call out, but visibility was very poor in the rainy misty weather. Two members of the party turned back, and the rest continued for another two hours. When the clouds lifted, they caught sight of George Africa - he was less than 10m from them, but completely out of reach, hypothermic and begging for water. Seven rescuers took off their shoes to get a better grip on the rock, but only managed to get another 2m closer. Next they tried to reach him from the top of the precipice. They managed to lower a man to within 5m of George, but loose rock made the rescue too dangerous. They tried a third route to reach him. Then exhausted, had to abondon the rescue.
At the foot of the mountain a second rescue party set out. This party included Tikkie Malherbe, Frans de Villiers and four farm labourers. They heavy weather forced them too to turn back. That evening at about 10pm twelve members of the Cape Town Mountain Club arrived to help with the rescue attempt.
Day 5: Wednesday morning, and the Mountain Club team set out at dawn with two farm labourers as guides. They had decided to attempt to reach the George from the top of the ridge, with the help of a 150m rope. They reached the 1,600m peak at 7.30 am after a two and a half hour climb. Keerweerder had become the centre of the rescue attempt. By Wednesday morning a crowd of 200 people had gathered to watch the rescue. George Africa's mother and sister had also arrived from Worcester and waited for him on the lower slopes of the mountain. His mother collapsed when she first caught sight of the rescue team carrying her son. George was rushed to Paarl Hospital, he had not slept in five days because he was afraid of falling off the narrow ledge.
In Paarl people collected money for him, and Tromp van Disselen was quoted in the newspaper. He said "his pluck, bravery and determination inspired people during depressing times." Karel's body could not be retrieved, and a memorial service was held on the mountain one late afternoon near the place he had died. Seven people attended.