Reiger Park WWII veteran dies at 95
World War II veteran Daniel Pieterse of Reiger Park died on November 10, 2015 at the age of 95.
According to Pieterse’s family, he died of natural causes at the Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Pieterse was among the thousands of South Africa’s military veterans who fought in the Second World War against the Axis’ military forces – when South Africa entered World War II on the side of the Allied Powers, led by Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union.
After finishing standard six (Grade 8), he went to join the army at the age of 17, as a member of the Cape Corps out of his own volition, and was soon engaged in the combat between the two opposing military alliances.
He served in the Cape Corps unit deployed in Egypt and Italy, where he was posted as a driver transporting weapons and supplies.
Pieterse’s parents died when he and his siblings were still very young.
For that reason, they were raised by their grandparents on a farm in Boskop, Potchefstroom, in the North West.
According to Pieterse’s eldest daughter Rosina Hansrod, her father conceded that his grandparents were worried about his safety after insisting that he wanted to be in the army whether his grandparents like it or not.
“He was the one who decided to go to the army. He was not conscripted into it, but he went to a military base and told them that he wanted to join,” said Rosina.
As World War II drew to an end, Pieterse returned home safely.
Soon after the war, while visiting Benoni, he met a woman by the name of Anna Visagie at the railway station. They fell in love at first sight.
Four weeks later they were married and later Pieterse secured employment as a chauffeur in a company belonging to an Irish Swab family. His wife was also employed by the same family as a housekeeper.
With their savings, they managed to soon buy their very first home in Actonville, Benoni.
Eight years later, God blessed them with a baby girl, their first child Rosina.
In 1964 the family, along with other coloured families, were forcibly moved from Actonville to Stirtonville, which is known as Reiger Park.
When the Swab family relocated back to Ireland, Pieterse found another job at Union Corrugated Cases, where he was employed as a printer.
At the age of 70 years he retired, and it was during that time he actually spent a lot of time with his family and also used the spare time to share his memories of WWII.
His wife became sick and died at the age of 83, 10 years ago.
On the following Mother’s Day in 2006, Pieterse suffered his first stroke, which left him unable to take care of himself.
The family described Pieterse as a very stubborn, serious, and strict but God fearing man.
According to the family, Pieterse heard that surviving veterans who risked their lives for many years fighting Nazi Germany’s plans to conquer the world were entitled to some sort of compensation from the UK.
The former soldier then filled in “countless” forms years ago in the hope of receiving compensation, but all his efforts have amounted to nothing.
He was buried on Saturday, November 14, at the cemetery next to the Boksburg Licensing Department, where his wife was also laid to rest.
In total, the couple was blessed with seven children – two girls and five boys, with three of them passing away.
They couple enjoyed life with 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. -@FanieFLK
