Old South African currency featuring Jan van Riebeeck

Date: 18 January, 1677

Johan Anthonisz “Jan” van Riebeeck died in 1677 at the age of 57 in Batavia, now Jakarta, Indonesia, in the former Dutch East Indies. He landed at the Cape in April 1652 to establish a refreshment station for ships travelling to the East on behalf of the Dutch East India Company. Van Riebeek landed in three ships, with 82 men and 8 women, including his wife Maria de la Quellerie.

While at the Cape, Van Riebeek encountered resistance from the native Hottentots tribe in his attempts to take over their land. Van Riebeek argued that the Hottentots had no written documentation to prove that the land was theirs. This was the source of constant tensions and conflicts between the two groups.

 Van Riebeek is regarded by the Afrikarners as the father of their nation. Up until 1993, his image appeared in postage stamps and the South African Currency. Many towns and streets in Cape Town have been named after him.

References

• South Africa.to ‘Jan van Riebeeck (21 April 1619 - 18 January 1677)’ from South Africa.to [online] Available at: www.southafrica.to [Accessed on 12 December 2011]
• Kapstadt.org ‘Jan van Riebeeck – Founder of Cape Town – Cape Town – South Africa’ from Kapstadt.org [online] Available at: www.kapstadt.org [Accessed on 12 December 2011]