Hans Heinrich Mundt
Full name: Hans Heinrich Mundt
Lifespan: 1833 Germany - 1922 Pretoria
Occupation: businessman, transport rider, 'poskontraktant', farmer
Wife: Maria Hermiena Dorothea van Soelen (1832-1881)
Mundt was a German immigrant settler (arriving in 1852), landowner, and minor mining figure in 19th-century South Africa. He initially farmed in Fauresmith (OFS) where he married widow Maria van Soelen (according to Geni) in 1866. He had two sons (Heinrich & Ernst Wilhelm), a daughter (Magadlena Maria Hendrika), a stepdaughter, possibly two stepsons (one was Ds. Ennis), and another daughter born after their arrival in Pretoria. (Pretorius, 1889). The Mundts moved to Hartebeestpoort in 1874. In 1879 Mundt was awarded the postal delivery contract between Pretoria and Lydenburg.
- Pretorius (1989) says his wife was Hermina Dorothea Ennis.
Silverton
Silverton began as a simple outspan (overnight stop) for travelers on the road to/from Pretoria around the mid-19th century. David Botha bought the 1,800 morgen farm Hartebeespoort 308 from the ZAR on 10 December, 1850.
- David Adolph Michael Botha (1806 Swellendam - 1879 Pretoria) was one of the earliest settlers in Pretoria. He was a field cornet, farmer, and later chairman of the Volksraad in the internecine strife which led to the Civil War of 1861-1864.
Other advantages were its proximity to the market in Pretoria, and good farming potential. (Pretorius)
"The first owner of the farm, Hartebeestpoort, was Dawid Alwyn Botha (sic) in 1858 (conflicting date). He built the house. He came from Swellendam and built it in the Swellendam style. It has no foundations and is built of clay packed between two planks on the ground. When the clay was dry, the planks were moved up and the next layer was added." *Possibly misinterpreted as "Alwyn" due to unclear handwriting in the Deeds Register.
"Die mure is van rooigrond gebou en die huisie het vyf vertrekke."
"Soos dikwels die geval was, is die huis van gebreide klei uit die omgewing gebou, met ‘n grasdak en kleivloer. Hout vir die balke, latte, en kappe sou Botha in die omgewing kon vind, aangesien bome volop langs die spruite gegroei het. Na sy vertrek na Kleinfontein het die Vermeulens, aan wie hy die plaas verkoop het, die huis vergroot. ‘n Kombuis met vuurherd is aangebou en later nog ‘n buitekamer. Dit is in hierdie vorm wat die huis bewaar gebly het." (Pretorius)
"Dit is die eenvoudige grasdak Voortrekkerhuisie wie se witgepleisterde kleimure indrukwekkend vertoon teen die groen van die lowerryke wilgers op die walle van die Rademeyersrivier of Mundtspruit aan die oostekant van Silverton." (Pretoriana)
Mundt bought the farm and house in 1875. He farmed with, amongst other things, peaches and apricots.
"Op 1 Februarie 1876 word 'n gedeelte (van Hartebeestpoort 328 JR) deur die Mundts aan Hendrik Wilhelm (Harry) Struben verkoop en kry ons die welbekende Struben Farm." (Pretoriana)
"Belanghebbendes het die geld wat hulle vir die ontginning van silwer naby die huidige Silverton gehad het, aangewend deur 'n gedeelte van die plaas aldaar aan te koop en dit as 'n dorp met die naam Silverton uit te lê."
In 1890, the Silverton Estates Company bought 552 morgen from Mundt for £9,000. The company had Charles Marais survey a township of 669 erven, one park and one square, and named it after a silver mine on the property. The stream in front of the house, before the entrance to Silverton, was known as Mundt-se-drif (Mondseloop).
Johannes Petrus Meyer purchased 200 morgen from Mundt in 1921, which became Meyerspark. Meyer played a major part in the early history of the Witwatersrand goldfields.
"In 1922 sterf Hans Mundt en sy plaas word onder sy vier kinders verdeel. Die suidoostelike gedeelte, waarop die pioniershuis staan, is deur sy seun Ernst Wilhelm geeerf. Hy rig in 1919 die Edwardiaanse woning, oos van die pionierswoning op." (Van Vollenhoven, 2000)
EW Mundt used the original cottage as a storeroom. The cottage was restored, but the Edwardian house (which was extended in the 1950s) was demolished in 1961-62 as a result of the conservation policy at the time. (Pretoriana). "In 1953 is daar aan die huis aangebou toe daar onder andere 'n badkamer en 'n stoep aan die oostekant toegevoeg is." (Van Vollenhoven, 2000)
A 1957 Pretoriana article interviewed Mrs. J.L. Mundt (widow of EW Mundt). The original farmhouse: A simple thatched dwelling with thick white-washed walls, ~120 years old (in 1959) (built early Trek era); served as overnight stop for thousands of travelers. Nearby big willow trees date to Voortrekker times. Mrs Mundt donated the house to the City Council in 1961. The pioneer cottage had to be restored again in 1973 and was handed over to the National Cultural History Museum. In 1975, the old homestead was opened as the Pioneer Museum. It was again restored in 1987.
"Gedurende 1987 is opgrawings in die noordoostelike hoek van die terrein gedoen, ten einde die oorspronklike buitegeboue-kompleks te ondersoek. Op grond hiervan is die waenhuis, wat tans oos van die pioniershuis gelee is, gerekonstrueer."
Named after Mundt: Mundtspruit (Rademeyersrivier / Morelettaspruit), Mundtsbrug, Mundtsrant
- Talk on the History of the Moreletaspruit. 2014. Martin, C.
- Pretoriana No 30, 1959.
- Pretoriana No 113, 2000.
- David Adolph Michael Botha (1806-1879), Pretoriase pionier. 1987. Pretorius, J.C. S.Afr.J.Cult.Art Hist.
- 'n Blywende herinnering. 1989. Pretorius, J.C. Restorica 24, 1989.
- Maria Hermina Dorothea (van Soelen) Mundt
- Navorsing op histories-argeologiese erfenishulpbronterreine. 2000. Van Vollenhoven, A.C. (thesis)
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