TOPIC:

My name is Alexander van Zyl. I live in Vaalpark, Free State, South Africa.

Me and my daughter, Elrica, are busy researching all facets of the Blockhouse system and -lines, employed during the Anglo Boer War.

There are still some fine examples left all over South Africa, of which some were declared National Monuments, while most, unfortunately, were either destroyed, removed, or left to go to ruins.

We are busy filming a semi-documentary series with the aim of heightening interest amongst, not only the South African population, but also international passionate people, for these old surviving structures. The aim is to make this into an interesting TV series that would, hopefully be broadcasted on international channels.

Hi Alex

I was told of the blockhouse on the historic farm, Bloukrans, the site of the 1838 massacre of Voortrekkers by Zulus. Evidently, this blockhouse was intact in every respect until the adjacent farmhouse was vacated, after which it was stripped of everything portable by people from a nearby township.

Bloukrans was subsequently developed as a hunting farm. I know nothing of its present status. The Bloukrans monument, which is some distance from the farmhouse, looked very isolated and neglected when I last saw it a few years ago.

Regards
Brett