Theo Dönges

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Full name: Theodor (Theo) Amadeus Heinrich Dönges

Lifespan: 1869 Carnarvon - 1951 Heidelberg [82]

Occupation: Teacher


Theo Dönges

Family

His father, Johannes Michael (or Michiel) Dönges (1832 Germany - 1917 Tulbagh [85]) was a Rhenish Missionary Society (RMS) missionary who arrived in SA in 1854. He served at Wupperthal, Schietfontain (Carnarvon), and Concordia. He married Anna Johanna Christina Leipoldt (1837 Wupperthal, Clanwilliam - 1912 Wolseley, Tulbagh [75]) in Wupperthal in 1861. She was the daughter of an RMS missionary. He retired at Wolseley (near Tulbagh).

J.M. Dönges (father)

Theo married Sara Salomina (Auntie Salie) van Huysteen (1874 Knysna - ?) in 1906.

His nephew, Theophilus Ebenhaezer (Eben) Dönges (1898 - 1968 [70]), became State President of South Africa in 1967, but suffered a stroke and died, aged 69, before he could take office.

Eben Dönges (nephew)

His nephew T.C. Dönges was a NG Kerk minister.

Timeline

Biography

At the age of 14, Dönges travelled to Stellenbosch to study medicine. Unfortunately, eye problems forced him to abandon his medical studies. Shortly afterwards he was offered a six-month practical nursing course at the New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town. It was during this time that he decided to become a teacher.¹
In 1890 at the age of 21, Dönges travelled to Johannesburg.

Theo Dönges was a prominent educator and headmaster in Heidelberg, closely tied to the town’s school history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

From c.1892-1894 he ran a one-man school at Elsburg (a small settlement right next to Germiston). He then briefly served as headmaster at the larger Hoërskool Goedehoop government school in Germiston (departed end of 1894). Germiston fell under the broad Heidelberg magisterial district at the time (before Johannesburg and Germiston got their own separate administrations).

In November 1894 he applied for the position of headmaster of the Heidelberg Government School (the dorpskool). He was appointed and took over around early 1895 (succeeding P.J. Möller). Under his leadership the school showed steady growth and improvement, as noted in inspection reports.

"Wat die skoolgebou betref, deel mnr. T.A. Dönges die volgende mee: Die gebou wat op erf nr. 61 is, is nie volgens die oorspronklike plan opgerig nie, want toe hy in 1895 op Heidelberg gekom het, het hy daar een klaskamer en een saal gevind. Net voor die Engelse oorlog is daar meer kamers aengebou. Toe die oorlog uitbreek, was die kamers net klaar, maar hulle kon nie eens in gebruik geneem word nie, daar (sic) Mnr. T.A. Dönges saam met die ander burgers op kommando gegaan het en nie voor die einde van die oorlog teruggekeer het nie."⁵

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) he served as Veldkornet in the Heidelberg Commando (and was attached to a special government bodyguard/regeeringswacht unit). He was on the Natal front early in the war (including actions such as the advance toward Ladysmith and related operations), where, due to his medical knowledge, he performed ambulance/medical duties and also acted as a veldprediker (field preacher). He was captured in 1902.

Theo Dönges with well-known poet, Japie du Toit (Totius) on the Natal front during the 2nd Boer War.

He was a delegate at the Vereeniging peace conference at the end of the Anglo-Boer War (1902).

He was one of the four key figures at the historic parents’ meeting held in the basement of the Klipkerk on 24 July 1903. Together with Rev. A.J. Louw, Mr. F.J. Bezuidenhout, and Dr. James O’Reilly, he helped decide to establish a free Christian National (C.N.O.) school in protest against the anglicisation of the public school under Milner’s administration.

Ds. Louw specifically convinced him to return to Heidelberg to become the first headmaster of the new Volkskool, which opened in August 1903 using church rooms (basement, vestry, and Van Belkum hall).


Volkskool Staff (1905): Theo Dönges back right, his future wife S.S. van Huysteen front centre.⁵

By 1907 he had become an inspector of education (inspekteur van onderwys). He was also a member of the senate of the Union of South Africa. From 1909 to 1929 he was head of the Normal College / Onderwyskollege in Heidelberg.

He is buried in Heidelberg’s Kloof Cemetery.

Sources
  1. The Citizen: The life and times of TA Dönges. June 27, 2022. Viljoen, E.
  2. Die Erfenisstigting on FB
  3. Johannes Michiel Donges
  4. Theodore Amadeus Hendrich Dönges
  5. Lotz, P.W. (1952) Geskiedenis van die Ontwikkeling van die Onderwys aan Blankes in die Distrik Heidelberg, Transvaal van 1839 to 1950. (thesis)

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