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Non-Profit Organisation 052-511-NPO

Postal address: PO Box 61 Cape Town 8000 South Africa

Physical address: 25 Queen Victoria Street Cape Town

South Africa

Phone: 021 481 3913 Fax: 021 481 3993

Cell: 072 225 6893 E-mail: samfriends@iziko.org.za

Website http://www.iziko.org.za/

http://www.iziko.org.za/static/page/friends-of-the-south-

african-museum

NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2019

The Friends programme continues to offer

interesting lecture topics and exciting activities.

We hope you will participate and enjoy these.

We welcome suggestions from members;

please contact us should you come across

exciting events and lectures.

LECTURE PROGRAMME

The programme for lectures and outings is

subject to change should this become

necessary. Lectures take place on the last

Wednesday of each month at 18:00 in the TH

Barry lecture theatre.

Wednesday 27 November 2019

We invite you to celebrate a year of Friends

lectures and outings at 17:00 before the lecture

commences at 18:00.

Speaker: Dr Wendy Black

Title: Human history starts here: a

journey across the South African

archaeological record

Wednesday 26 February 2020

Speaker: Jackie King, aquatic ecologist

Title: TBA

Wednesday 25 March

Speaker: Dr Alberto Valenciano

Title: TBA

Wednesday 29 April

Speaker: Dr Eugene Bergh

Title: TBA

PURCHASE OF PALEO TOOLS FOR KAROO

PALAEONTOLOGY LABORATORY

The Friends recently purchased preparatory

laboratory equipment for the Karoo palaeontology

laboratory. The tools consisting of a micro-jack and

micro-jack styluses, cylinders and pistons for

MP9100 jacks and various essential replacement

and repair parts at a cost of R27 000 allows the

laboratory to stay at the cutting edge of

international preparation techniques, which will

ensure that South Africa’s Karoo fossils are treated

with the appropriate deference and care.

A special thanks to Munro Bloch for doing the

ordering from America, dealing with the payment

and arranging for the delivery of the equipment.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the fossils will be

arranged next year for Friends to see the shiny new

equipment in use.

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COMMUNICATION TRAINING

Nan and der Merwe, a member of The Friends and

previously a senior lecturer and Head of UCT

Communications Department, generously

volunteered her time for four morning sessions

during October to teach communication skills to

Iziko staff members. This was a wonderful

opportunity and the staff who participated

benefitted a great deal from this intervention.

The participants were Sibusisio Mtungata,

Nolusindiso Mtalana, Nyaniso Nofingxana, Shandre

Riddles, Samukelisiwe Mtshali and Marcelle van der

Westhuizen.

A big thanks to Nan for her time and effort in

adding to Iziko staff members’ skills.

Nan’s comment at the conclusion of the

programme:

I was asked by this group to come back in

December for a ‘thank you’ party for the sessions

we had. I was bowled over; this never happened to

me in all the years I taught at the university. They

wanted to show me how they would incorporate

what they had learnt when speaking about their

work to the visiting groups with whom they deal.

The museum must treasure those who wish to learn

and improve; I had a marvellous time with them.

They are an asset to the museum.

IN_HERIT FESTIVAL AT IZIKO MUSEUMS OF

SOUTH AFRICA

As part of the annual In_Herit festival at Iziko

Museums, Rosemary Smythe, Chairperson of the

Friends of the South African Museum, hosted a film

festival which ran all day on Wednesday 25

September in the TH Barry lecture theatre. Entry was

free and people were welcome to pop in at any

stage.

Aiming at the youth, Rosemary selected films

focusing on Karoo fossils and geology. Each session

started with a fifteen-minute compilation of Karoo

palaeontology consisting of four short clips

featuring Professor Roger Smith and others to show

how the casting and preparation of fossils from the

ancient Karoo takes place, with the aim of showing

youngsters where our 251.2 million-year old fossils

come from.

The films that were shown were:

Karoo selection

The great dance

History of Africa

Sahara

Plate tectonics

Rise of the continents

The geological timescale

A brief history of geology

Planet of fire – fireball Earth

NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER The committee has a welcome addition of Dwayne

Kloppers. Dwayne has been a member of the

Friends since 2018. He was recruited to add a

younger perspective to committee planning. This

may have been a misguided effort though. As an

old soul, Dwayne has been described as ‘grumpy

beyond his years’ by close friends (a claim he

contests vehemently). He enjoys hiking,

photography and film and hopes to contribute

toward the breadth of activities the Friends

facilitate.

OUTINGS

We will advise about the outings planned for 2020

early in the New Year. We look forward to seeing you

on these outings. Please do look at our Facebook

page for notices, news and photographs of previous

outings.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-

South-African-Museum/310188388996502

Booking and advance payment to secure your

booking is essential for all outings. To secure your

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booking, please respond by email

samfriends@iziko.org.za

We recommend that you please email to book the

outing prior to making payment to ensure there is

space on the outing.

OUTINGS - REPORT BACK

IRMA STERN MUSEUM - TIPPING POINT:

THREATENED PLANTS OF SOUTHERN

AFRICA EXHIBITION The Friends visited the Irma Stern Museum to look

at this wonderful exhibition curated by Mary van

Blommestein. The exhibition, which showcased

threatened plants in southern Africa, consisted of

some new work which was for sale as well as work

borrowed from either the artists or from owners of

artworks.

Most unusual floral displays using cut-out paper

flower placed beautifully inside glass domes

decorated the display area. These were designed

and made by Alison Prest who was also responsible

for a delightful pop-up tearoom which was open for

the duration of the exhibition. Friends were

tempted by and indulged in the delicious and

artfully decorated cakes on offer.

Mary gave us an insight into why she had chosen

these particular works and how decisions about

where to display them were made. She gave us

some background about some of the artists and

their paintings, pointing out techniques and

material used in some of the items. She had been

able to find sponsors for this exhibition, one of

which allowed the use a touch screen to discover

connections between botanical art and the work

undertaken by Custodians of Rare and Endangered

Wildflowers (CREW) volunteers.

The museum building has been renovated and now

has opened the windows in the exhibition area

which were previously closed off with dry walls,

allowing light into the space with a beautiful view

towards the Baxter Theatre. Irma Stern’s studio has

a new floor to make it possible for visitors to

explore her working area. The exceptional building

is well worth a visit to explore Irma Stern’s home

and exquisite furniture.

Charlotte Honiball

ROBBEN ISLAND 26/27JULY

The weather gods and Lady Luck were definitely

batting for us on our seventh excursion to this very

special World Heritage site. The weather before the

excursion was typical Cape winter – strong winds,

heavy rain and high and stormy seas. This led to the

ferry service being cancelled which meant we could

not do our usual recce beforehand to make sure all

was ready for this excursion. This frayed Charlotte’s

nerves whose potential nightmare was to have to

re-schedule trip. However, the gods were definitely

on our side – both days were clear with no wind

and rain, making it possible for this excursion to go

ahead.

Forty members and non-members made the bumpy

trip to the island in more than five metre swells, the

result of the previous few days’ storms, on the ferry

Jester. After loading our bags on to a waiting bus

on arrival, we walked to the maximum-security

prison where former inmate Peter gave an account

of his time in prison and how he was treated. In

spite of hearing the narrative before it is always

horrific to hear just how badly-behaved humans can

be to one another.

After the prison tour we headed for the beach next

to the harbour and then to the infamous lime

quarry. Our guide, Dr John Rogers, gave us a run-

down on what to look for. His wealth of geological

knowledge, and on Robben Island in particular,

made for a great learning experience. We really are

fortunate to have someone of his calibre to learn

from. After the lime quarry we walked to Robert

Sobukwe’s house and then reached our quarters,

the medium security prison just before sunset,

which allowed time to relax and socialise before our

communal braai. After the braai we headed for the

lighthouse to get a great view of Cape Town’s

lights. It really is a special experience to wander

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around the island at night where there is no traffic

with the only sounds the sea and thousands of

noisy seagulls that never seem to sleep.

The route the following morning took us from our

lodgings past the garrison church to the big guest

house, then along the beach to Alpha 1, to Van

Riebeeck’s quarry, back to Alpha 1 for coffee, then

along the perimeter road to Langbaai for a picnic

lunch, and finally over the hill past the WWII guns

and back to the medium security prison in time for

a cup of tea and coffee before being collected by

bus (for those who didn’t want to walk back to the

harbour) to catch the ferry back.

Although a huge amount of effort goes into making

this excursion so successful it’s extremely

worthwhile, as evidenced by the number of

participants who have been with us on all the trips.

A huge thank you goes to Charlotte for all her input

and to John for so willingly sharing his knowledge

with us.

We look forward to repeating this outing around

end of July next year.

Munro Bloch

UNSHACKLED HISTORY, THE WRECK OF

THE SLAVE SHIP, SÃO JOSÉ, 1794 Following the lecture on the São José slave ship at

the end of June by Dr Jaco Boshoff, an enthusiastic

group of Friends and guests set off on a cold and

wet morning to the Iziko Slave Lodge to see the

exhibition Unshackled History, the Wreck of the

Slave Ship, São José, 1794.

Our knowledgeable guide Nadjwa Damon began

the tour by taking the group through several

exhibitions that illustrate the history of the slaves

who arrived at the Cape. She spoke about where

they came from, the different tasks they performed

and the conditions in which they lived. The tour

then moved to the exhibition focusing on the

discovery and excavation of the wreck of the São

José off the beach at Clifton. The focus of the

exhibition is on the various objects excavated from

the wreck site that have never been seen in South

Africa. To enhance the appreciation and

understanding of the history and the excavation of

this slave ship the group could make use of two

interactive installations, created by the Smithsonian

National Museum of African American History and

Culture which bring extensive information directly

to cell phones.

Thanks to our guide Nadjwa for an interesting and

enjoyable morning spent surrounded by another

facet of our diverse history.

Maxine Davies

ENTOMOLOGY TOUR

The Friends had the privilege of getting a behind-

the-scenes look at the entomology collection at

Iziko Museum, led by Simon van Noord, the curator,

and Nokuthula Nhleko, the assistant curator.

We started in the collection area where we saw

some of the specimens in the vast collection, which

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is one of the oldest in Africa. Some of these

specimens are now either extinct or nearly extinct,

which makes them very valuable for research

purposes. Nokuthula told us about her PhD which is

focusing on 'hot rod' ants. These ants have long

legs and scuttle over scorching hot sand in the

Namib Desert.

Simon explained how insects were caught,

preserved and identified and told us how this

process has changed over the years, which now

includes using DNA. He also explained how this

information is used and shared with other

institutions and scientists and told us what

procedures are followed to ensure pest control and

proper hygiene to protect the collection. We were

told how labels are written and what information

has to be recorded, which often means that the

smallest of fonts is used in order to record essential

information.

We then moved to the laboratory to see interns

busy at work sorting, selecting, mounting and

labelling specimens. This is very detailed work and it

was fascinating to see the microscopes and

equipment they use. We were able to visit the newly

renovated areas of the museum where the

collection will be housed. Glass walls and panelling

will allow visitors to view the staff at work. The

storage units, which have sliding facilities in order

to provide easy access, are situated in a

temperature-controlled environment with fire

protection. Our fascinating and informative tour

ended with Simon showing us a tarantula spider on

his hand at very close range – not for those with

arachnophobia!

Charlotte Honiball

Above: Simon van Noord shows members pinned

specimens having explained the collection and

preparation processes.

BABYLONSTOREN

Thirty-one Friends took part in a wonderful garden

tour at Babylonstoren. Spring ensured that the

garden was at its best with blossoms and floral

scents wherever we walked. Our knowledgeable

guide encouraged us to pick and taste as we walked

through the garden; it was a treat to experience and

enjoy such fresh produce. In addition to the usual

produce, we tasted spekboom leaves,

waterblommetjie flowers and various other edible

flowers and leaves which the restaurant uses in

salads.

The highlight was seeing the vast collection of

clivias for which Babylonstoren is known just

beginning to flower. Planted along the river in the

shady area, the colours range from orange to

almost red to a gorgeous yellow, making a colourful

show. A beautiful walkway that replicates a puff

adder houses rare clivias which are regularly

changed to show visitors different varieties.

Before exploring the farm our guide gave us some

history. The Babylonstoren garden is at the heart of

the Babylonstoren farm. It was inspired by the

Company Gardens of the Cape, where for centuries

ships would replenish with sweet water, vegetables

and fruit at the halfway station between Europe and

Asia.

Spanning eight acres, the Babylonstoren garden is

formal in structure. Every one of the over three

hundred varieties of plants in the garden is edible

and it is grown as biologically as possible. Organic

farming encourages insects and beautiful insect

hotels attract creatures to the garden. Fruit and

vegetables are harvested year-round for use in the

restaurant. The garden is divided into fifteen

clusters that incorporates vegetable areas, berries,

bees, indigenous plants, ducks and chickens, and

includes a prickly pear maze. Gravity feeds water

into waterways from the stream into the garden as

it has been done for three hundred years. Beautiful

ponds and fountains are scattered around the

garden.

Many Friends stayed for lunch at the restaurant

which used the salad, vegetable and fruit harvested

from the garden. Delicious juices using the fruit and

vegetables were also available. A visit to the lovely

garden shop was essential. It was difficult to resist

the tempting merchandise and many left clutching

parcels.

Charlotte Honiball

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Above: The special clivia collection is currently on display

and contains some unusual specimens. The walkway has

recently been completed and here you can see the

backbone of the Puff Adder created as a mosaic of

stones.

NAGIN PARBHOO HISTORY OF

ANAESTHESIA MUSEUM, NEW GROOTE

SCHUUR HOSPITAL

A small group of Friends had the privilege of

visiting the Nagin Parbhoo History of Anaesthesia

Museum situated in the new Groote Schuur

Hospital. As this museum is not open to the general

public, our visit was specially arranged with

Professor Peter Gordon, the curator of this museum.

Our visit started with an informative presentation

on the history of anaesthesia by Professor Gordon

which highlighted doctors and anaesthesiologists

whose work constantly modernised and improved

the anaesthesia process until it has become the

sophisticated procedure we know today. It was

fascinating to see the primitive equipment and

methods originally used and to hear how the

science underlying anaesthesia has evolved. We

were able to compare this to the new and modern

machines now in use in operating theatres in all

hospitals. We marvelled at the fact that patients

actually survived those very primitive procedures.

The museum has a large and unique collection of

equipment and memorabilia which is beautifully

displayed in wood and glass cases in the

Anaesthesia Department. Professor Gordon has

added to the collection originally started by Dr

Parbhoo. He showed and demonstrated the

equipment on display. At the end of the tour we

were shown an iron lung machine, one of two in the

hospital.

Charlotte Honiball

Above: Peter Gordon with Medee Rall who arranged the

visit. Photo by Marilyn Lilley.

CERES FOSSIL HUNTING WEEKEND

It’s been years since the Friends went to the

Cederberg in search of Bokkeveld fossils so it was

with great excitement that we set out on our fossil

hunting trip and for our lovely accommodation on

the Rhodene farm cottages outside Prince Alfred’s

Hamlet.

Thirty very enthusiastic Friends listened intently to

our group guides outlining the plans for the two

days’ excursions. Claire Browning, assisted by

Wendy Taylor and Cuan Lohrentz – the behind-the-

scenes assistant – gave excellent talks on what we

could expect to find in the old roadside quarries in

the area. As the roads had been built in the area

tons of Bokkeveld group and other layers had been

excavated and dumped in various ‘quarry areas’; our

searches for fossils were at these sites.

After the talk on the Friday, the rest of the evening

was spent socialising with old Friends and meeting

new members. The dinner had been organised by

the Friends but load shedding made things a little

tricky as well as the fact that the oven decided to go

on strike. But eventually everything worked out in

the end courtesy of Mr WW.

Saturday started cool but eventually became very

hot, with temperatures in the 30s. We stopped at

four sites and found many fossils. There was much

excitement and shouts to come and look or taking

little treasures to Claire and Wendy to be identified.

Unlike the Karoo fossil expeditions where we spread

out far and wide on the slopes, here we were

working in a concentrated area guaranteed to

produce fossils. It was all very exciting and the

geological era we were searching in was really

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thrilling. In the evening Wendy gave a most

interesting talk that included telling us about her

extensive field experience in the United States. This

was followed by a braai, supervised by Cuan and

other interested members. The socialising was great

with new topics of conversation and a special star

show by Catherine Cress, which was a lovely

surprise.

On Sunday we gathered early and then visited

another three sites with many more exciting finds.

Claire and Wendy were particularly happy as we

were able to contribute many samples to their

education collections, which they will be using to

demonstrate the wonders of palaeontology and

geology to children.

All in all, it was a fascinating insight into the natural

geological history of the country, which we are very

privileged to have on our doorstep and it is proudly

South African as well!

Rosemary Smythe

Above: An exquisitely well-preserved starfish found by

Gill Grose

OLD NECTAR

The Friends were most relieved that the pouring

rain of the previous day abated for our visit to Old

Nectar outside Stellenbosch. The rain made for

wonderful waterfalls on the Jonkershoek mountains

– clearly visible from Old Nectar homestead.

Purchased in 1941 by the van der Spuy family, the

early eighteenth-century Cape-Dutch manor house

has been beautifully restored and furnished. Peter

van der Spuy, who grew up in the house, gave us a

tour and told us about the upgrading, renovations

and restoration.

There are five guest cottages on the homestead

which can be rented as short term lets, as can the

manor house. These cottages were originally

outbuildings which housed slaves and

accommodated wagons, horses and milking cows.

During World War II they housed Italian prisoners of

war. Some of the cottages have been named after

the prisoners of war. The wine cellar, which is next

to the house, hosts functions and music events,

many of which are held for charity.

Una van der Spuy initially had no gardening

experience but used her knowledge about famous

English gardens she had visited to design her

garden. She became well known through the Old

Nectar nurseries, her gardens and the fifteen books

she wrote. From 1941 to 1945 she used the Italian

prisoners of war captured during the Abyssinian

campaigns. They assisted with the landscaping of

the garden and doing the bricklaying and heavy

work. Currently staffed by gardeners trained by Una,

the garden has many features such as a wonderful

rose garden, lily ponds, a decorative bell tower,

indigenous garden, a waterfall garden, an herb area,

a woodland garden and a great variety of trees.

Benches are placed around the garden to allow

visitors to enjoy and reflect on the beauty of the

garden and surrounding mountains.

Being in and enjoying this tranquil setting made it

difficult to remember that Stellenbosch and Cape

Town is so nearby.

Charlotte Honiball

Above: Una spent a remarkable 71 years creating what is

believed to be the only privately owned garden in South

Africa with national heritage status (declared in 1967)

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Above: The rose garden was a highlight, despite us

visiting the day after torrential rains — at Old Nectar.

IN MEMORIUM It is with great sadness that the Friends have had to

bid farewell to Norman Magasiner and Oscar van

Oordt, both loyal supporters of the Friends with

whom we shared many great adventures.

They are sorely missed.

NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the following new members: Sarah

Weaver, Gulden Aktugan, Hella Linkmeyer, Debbie

De Bastos, Tony Marshall, Joan Parker, Erica

Brumage and Anne Ribbans.

Please note that membership renewals are due at

the end of December 2019. If your membership is

not renewed you will no longer be on the mailing

list for information regarding lectures and outings.

The Friends committee members wish you well over

the festive season and look forward to seeing you

next year.

Charlotte Honiball

Friends of Iziko South African Museum

Above: Nonhlanhla proudly showing her first fossil find

with friend Irene and Wendy Taylor.