DEPARTEMENT VAN PUBLIEKE WERKEN - ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK

Architect

Also:
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (PWD) IN THE TRANSVAAL REPUBLIC

In 1877 the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) made provision in revised constitution for PWD, but Britain annexed the Republic in 1879. In 1881 when the Republic was re-instated the Public Works Department was then omitted from constitution of the reinstated Republic.

It was only in 1887 that a Government engineer and architect was appointed, first Klaas VAN RIJSSE in temporary capacity. He was followed by his mentor, Sytze Wopkes WIERDA.

The Departement van Publieke Werken (DPW) was founded in Pretoria in 1887, serving the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) under the Presidency of Paul Kruger. The staff was principally made up of immigrant Hollanders purpose-employed, most of whom appear to have remained in the country even after the Anglo Boer War. The DPW ceased to function during or towards the end of the War (1902), but during its approximate 15 years of existence it was responsible for the design of a number of public buildings throughout the ZAR of a pronounced character broadly based on European continental design characteristics. The artisans, architects and engineers formed a team under the chief engineer and architect SW WIERDA and provided the core expertise of the reformed PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, Transvaal Colony based in Pretoria after the War, under the directorship of GH FOWKE, a Royal Engineer.

Bridges of the ZAR DPW

The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek undertook an extensive road and bridge building programme which commenced in the 1890s.

Before gold was discovered in the Transvaal there were no bridges worthy of mention. Indeed, the whole system of communication by road was extremely primitive. District Councils had to see to the maintenance of roads to the best of their ability. Flooded rivers constantly impeded travellers and transport riders and caused serious delays. Eleven years after the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand the Landdrost of Lydenburg, speaking at the opening of the Steenkamp Bridge over the Spekboom River, was able to say with justifiable pride:

"Ten years ago there were no bridges worthy of the name in the State and what do we see now? There is no country other than this Republic that can show such a remarkable advance and improvement in ten years."

The remarkable road and bridge building programme which the Republic undertook in the 1890s, was planned and carried out by the ZAR Department of Public Works which was established in terms of a resolution passed by the Volksraad on 24th June, 1887. At first the Department was directed by Sytze WIERDA, the 'Government Engineer and Architect', whose title was changed in 1895 to 'Chief of Public Works'. Under his energetic leadership the road transport system was completely modernised by 1898. No fewer than 21 large road bridges were designed and built between 1889 and 1898, and this provided a sound basis for communications between the country districts and the capital, Pretoria. Flooded rivers no longer delayed the travelers, transport riders and the mail coaches, and communications with the capital were now assured throughout the year.

Bridges that were erected in the various districts came to be built in the following way: memorials or petitions requesting that a bridge be built across some river were signed by the voters of the district concerned and submitted to the Second Volksraad. If the Second Volksraad was satisfied that a need for the bridge really existed, it passed a resolution requesting the Government to have the bridge built provided that the financial resources of the State permitted it. Specifications were then prepared and an amount of money placed on the estimates. The Department of Public Works then called for tenders. The tenders were then referred to the Auditor-General who recommended to the Executive Council that a suitable tender be accepted. Only when the Executive Council had approved the particular tender, was the contractor allowed to commence building the bridge.

With few exceptions, the bridges were built by private contractors who were nearly all foreigners, as shown by their names: GB GILETTI, T KNOOP, Max LAGOIS, Celso GIRI and MCA MEISCHKE. At first only steel bridges were erected in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Many were manufactured by the 'Actiengesellschaft für Eisenindustrie und Brückenbau' of Duisburg, imported from the firm of Harkort of the same city, Germany, while others were of British, chiefly Scottish, manufacture. The Wierda Bridge over the Six Mile Spruit near Pretoria is one of these and the first in the bridge construction programme, the Bridge over Marthinus-Wesselstroom at Wakkerstroom another.

However, WIERDA, in his annual report for 1895 argued strongly for building stone bridges, especially where exposures of rock offered firm foundations for the pillars, since they would eliminate the need to import "prefabricated steel bridges" from overseas. The authorities accepted this recommendation and immediately began to design and build stone bridges, and by 1898 five such bridges were already in use:

The Grobler Bridge over the Komati River between Machadodorp and Carolina, the Meyer Bridge over the Klein Olifants River at Middelburg, the Joubert Bridge over the Blyde River between Pilgrim's Rest and Lydenburg, the Begin der Lijn Bridge over the Vaal at Ermelo and the bridge over the Pivaan River in the Vryheid district.

Practitioners listed on this site who worked for DPW ZAR

All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.

List of projects

With photographs
With notes

Artillery Barracks (Defence Headquarters) Staatsartillerie: c1898. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Building for disinfection of hides: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Burgers' Park: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Cold Water Baths: 1897. Warmbaths (Bela-bela), Limpopo - Architect

Court House: 1890. Klerksdorp, North West - Architect

Court House: 1890. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect

Customs Offices: 1896. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Architect

Extensions to the Gaol: 1893. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Fort Daspoortrand: 1896. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Fort Klapperkop: 1896. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Fort Schanskop: 1896. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Fort Wonderboom: 1896. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Gaol: 1893. Carolina, Mpumalanga - Architect

Gaol: 1893. Rustenburg, North West - Architect

Gaol: 1893. Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Gaol - Additions: 1893. Standerton, Mpumalanga - Architect

Gaol - Museum: 1891. Klerksdorp, North West - Architect

Gaol and Office: 1897. Roossenekal, Mpumalanga - Architect

General Post Office: 1897 : 1905. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Government Building - Compol Police Museum: c1890. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Government Building - Magistrate's Office: 1890. Boksburg, Gauteng - Architect

Government Buildings - Additions: 1897. Ermelo, Mpumalanga - Architect

Government Offices - Additions: 1893. Mkhondo (Piet Retief), Mpumalanga - Architect

Government Printing Works: 1896 : 1932. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Gunpowder Magazine: 1896. Carolina, Mpumalanga - Architect

Gunpowder Warehouse: 1897. Barberton, Mpumalanga - Architect

Gunpowder Warehouse: 1893. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

Gunpowder Warehouse: 1897. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Architect

Gunpowder Warehouse: 1897. Wolmaransstad, North West - Architect

Housing Director, Post and Telegraph Office: 1897. Belfast, Limpopo - Architect

Johannesburg Fort: 1896-1899. Hospital Hill, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Justice of the Peace, Post and Telegraph Office: 1897. Belfast, Limpopo - Architect

Landdrost Office: c1890. Rustenburg, North West - Architect

Landdrost's Building: c1898. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Landdrost, Post and Telegraph Office: 1896. Lichtenburg, North West - Architect

Landdrost, Post and Telegraph Office: 1896. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

Law Court Headquarters Building: 1893. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Leprozen-Inrigting / Leprosy Asylum / now Westfort Village: 1897-1898. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Lunatic Asylum - Doctors House: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Machine Building Artillery Camp: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Magistrate's Court: c1890s. Modimolle (Nylstroom), Limpopo - Architect

Magistrate's Court: n.d.. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Architect

Magistrate's Court - Vredefort Dome Information Centre: 1889. Venterskroon, North West - Architect

Magistrate's Office: n.d.. Rustenburg, North West - Architect

Magistrates Office: 1898. Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga - Architect

Magistrates Office and Gaol: 1893. Bethal, Mpumalanga - Architect

Magistrates Office and Gaol: 1893. Vereeniging, Gauteng - Architect

Magistrates, Post and Telegraph Office: 1893. Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

Magistrates, Post and Telegraph Office - Additions: 1897. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

Military College: c1899. Roberts Heights, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Mortuary at the Gaol: 1896. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Officers' Houses: 1890s. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Offices and Gaol: 1893. Ventersdorp, North West - Architect

Old Fort: 1899. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Old Gaol: 1890. Amsterdam, Mpumalanga - Architect

Old Gaol: n.d.. Ermelo, Mpumalanga - Architect

Old Gaol: 1898. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

Old Gaol, Warder's House: 1898. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

Old ZAR Hospital: n.d.. eMakhazeni (Belfast), Mpumalanga - Architect

Paardekraal Monument: 1891. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect

Palace of Justice: 1898. Central, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Patterns Warehouse: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Police Barracks and Stables: 1897. Krugersdorp, Gauteng - Architect

Police Station: c1895. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

Police Station: 1899?. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Post and Telegraph Office: 1897. Elandsfontein, Gauteng - Architect

Post and Telegraph Office: 1897. Potgietersrust (Mokopane), Limpopo - Architect

Post and Telegraph Office: 1896. Roodepoort, Gauteng - Architect

Post and Telephone Extension Office: 1893. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

Post Office: 1898-1905. Boksburg, Gauteng - Architect

Post Office: 1898. Jeppestown, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Post Office: 1898. Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Post Office: 1898. Fordsburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Post Office: 1891. Leydsdorp, Limpopo - Architect

Pretoria Lunatic Asylum - Four keepers houses: 1893. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Prison warders house: 1896. Ermelo, Mpumalanga - Architect

Prison warders house: 1896. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Architect

Raadsaal: 1889. Central, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Rail Bridge over the Spekboom River: 1897. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

Residence Justice of the Peace, Post and Telegraph Office: 1896. Schweizer-Reneke, North West - Architect

Residence Justice of the Peace, Post and Telegraph Office: 1897. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Architect

Road Bridge over the Sandspruit: c1895. Volksrust, Mpumalanga - Engineer

Road Bridge over the Vaal River (Kruger Bridge): 1891. Standerton, Mpumalanga - Architect

School: 1889. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

Staats Meisjesskool: 1899. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Staatsmodel School: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

State Artillery Barracks: 1898. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

State Girls' School: 1894. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

State Gymnasium: 1898. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

State Museum - Staatsmuseum: 1899-1904. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

State Shelter Expansion: 1896. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Tax Collectors Offices: 1893. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Telephone Equipment Store: 1893. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Telephone Tower: 1893. Johannesburg, Gauteng - Architect

Twelve bathhouses: 1893. Warmbaths (Bela-bela), Limpopo - Architect

Volkshospitaal: 1890. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

Warehouse Telegraph Department: 1897. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over Hennops River, 'S(Z)esmylspruit' - Wierda Bridge: 1891. Swartkops, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over Marthinus-Wesselstroom (UTaka River), 'Wakkerstroom Bridge': 1893. Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Apies River - Leeubrug - Lion Bridge - Arcadia Bridge: 1894 : 1910. Arcadia, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Apies River, 'Arcadia' Bridge: 1888-1894. Arcadia, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Apies River, Jacob Maré Street Bridge: 1888-1900. Sunnyside, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Bivane River: 1895-1898. Paulpietersburg, KwaZulu-Natal - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Blesbokspruit: 1896. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Engineer

ZAR Road Bridge over the Blesbokspruit, 'Blesbokspruitbrug': 1890-1898. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Blyde River (Joubert Bridge): 1897. Pilgrim's Rest, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Crocodile River: c1897. Mbombela (Nelspruit), Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Crocodile River, 'Schoeman's Bridge': 1891-1917. Hartbeespoort, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Crocodile River, near Koppie Alleen: 1897. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Hart River, 'Schweitzer-Reneke Bridge / -brug': 1897 (1896). Bloemhof, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Klein Olifants River (Meijer Bridge): 1897. Middelburg, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Komati River (Grobler's Bridge): 1897. Carolina, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Mooi River, 'Noordbrug': 1890-1964. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Mooi River, 'Oosbrug': 1890. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Mooi River, 'Suidbrug': 1890. Potchefstroom, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Olifants River, 'du Toit Bridge' / 'Du Toitbrug': 1892. Kromdraai, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Rietspruit: n.d.. Heidelberg, Gauteng - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Schoon Spruit, 'Schoonspruitbrug': 1891. Klerksdorp, North West - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Spekboom River (Steenkamp Bridge): 1897. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Sterk Spruit: 1893. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Vaal River (Begin der Lijn Bridge): 1897. Ermelo, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Wilge River, 'Bronkhorstspruit Bridge': 1939 (1892). Bronkhorstspruit, Mpumalanga - Architect

ZAR Road Bridge over the Wilge River, 'Eloffs Bridge' / 'Eloffsbrug': 1891. Rayton, Mpumalanga - Architect

Books citing DEPARTEMENT VAN PUBLIEKE WERKEN - ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK

Bakker, Karel A, Clarke, Nicholas J. 2014. Eclectic ZA Wilhelmiens : A shared Dutch built heritage in South Africa. Pretoria: Visual Books. pp 4, 7, 14, 17, 22, 23, 35, 40-43, 47, 53, 67-89, 91, 136, 138, 140, 146, 147, 148, 150, 157, 161, 168, 170, 173, 175, 194-197, 198, 204, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211

Erasmus, Koos and Friebus, Hein. 2008. Vergete padbrûe van die ZAR : 'n oorsig van die padbrûe wat gebou en beplan is tydens die regering van die Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. Centurion: Koos Erasmus and Hein Friebus: . pp All

Fisher, RC, Le Roux, SW. 1998. Architecture of the Transvaal. Pretoria: UNISA. pp 64, 65, 66, 74

Fisher, Roger & Clarke, Nicholas. 2014. Architectural Guide : South Africa. Berlin: DOM Publishers. pp 11

Gunner's Association. s.a. [1978?]. Fort Schanskop 1897 - 1978. Pretoria: Gunner's Association. pp All

Kuipers, Marieke for Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. 2015. 'Mapping' Westfort Village at Pretoria, Tshwane. Amersfoort: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. pp All

Rex, Hermann Moritz. 1974. Die Lewe en Werk van Sytze Wierda in Nederland met verwysing na sy betekenis vir die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Pretoria: Unpublished Ph.D. pp 357-450

van der Waal, Gerhard-Mark. 1987. From Mining Camp to Metropolis - The buildings of Johannesburg 1886-1940. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. pp 53, 56, 58, 84

Articles citing DEPARTEMENT VAN PUBLIEKE WERKEN - ZUID-AFRIKAANSCHE REPUBLIEK

Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. 1893. Departement van Publieke Werken. Staats-Almanak. 1894 161-164

Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. 1895. Departemant van Publieke Werken. Staats-Almanak. 1895 153-156

Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. 1896. Departement van Publieke Werken. Staats-Almanak. 1897 243-245

Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. 1897. Departement van Publieke Werken. Staats-Almanak. 1898 264-266

Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. 1898. Departement van Publieke Werken. Staats-Almanak. 1899 108-111