Siener van Rensburg

Nicolaas Pieter Johannes Janse VAN RENSBURG
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Part of Afrikaner Folklore - A Prophet
Nicolaas Pieter Johannes Janse van Rensburg has a unique position in the history of the Afrikaner, he is considered in cultural and folk lore as a prophet, known in Afrikaans as "Siener van Rensburg" see photo Siener van Rensburg (20k) (Shepherd STUURMAN was a Hottentot-proclaimed prophet in German South-West Africa, who was a catalyst in the uprising against the Germans in 1904, he then returned to the Cape as Hendrik Bekeer). *Endnote

Siener was born 30 August 1864 at Palmietfontein in the district of Potchefstroom, and died 11 March 1926, at Rietkuil, Wolmaranstad (this is about 10 km south east of Ottosdal). His parents were Willem Jacobus (Kortkoos) Janse van Rensburg X 14 August 1854 Anna Catharina Janse van Rensburg *4 November 1838. Anna Catharina's parents were b5c4d2e4 Petrus Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Anna Catharina WILDERS. Siener got married 8 January 1884 to Anna Sophia Kruger born Doornfontein, Wolmaranstad 5 February 1862, died Rietkuil, Wolmaranstad 3 December 1935.

The Following information seems to create some problems with the dates
Depot TAB
Source MHG
Type Leer
Vol No 0
System 01
Ref 59760
Part 1
Description Van Rensburg, Nicolaas Pieter Johannes Janse.
Start 1925
Ending 1925
Remarks Surviving spouse Anna Sophia van Rensburg (Born Kruger).

As a child all his education was at the Rooipoort plaasskool, and he spent 20 days there. He concentrated on reading the Bible and did apparently not read anything else. When he was 16 years he went on commando which had to punishmen captain Mapog. On this commando he got malaria and narrowly escaped with his life. At the young age of 21, 1983 he was appointed as an elder of the Wolmaransstad NG church.

Children
b1 Willem born 21 Sep 1885, died 27 Mar 1915
b2 Hester Petronella born 7 Sep 1887 X Roelof Johannes Coertze
b3 Cornelius Francois born 4 Aug 1889, X Hendrina Magrieta Coetzee
b4 Anna Catharina born 8 Oct 1891, died 6 Oct 1901 Concentration Camp Mafikeng
b5 Nicolaas Johannes born 21 Jun 1894, died 17 Jun 1967
b6 Maria Elizabeth born 26 Aug 1896, died Concentration Camp Mafikeng
b7 Elizabeth Johanna born 16 May 1898, X Barend Johannes Gerhardus Botha
b8 Anna Sophia born 9 Apr 1902, X Hendrik Johannes Badenhorst
b9 Petronella Nicolasina born 1 Jan 1905, X Willem Adriaan Niemand
b10 Johannes Cornelius born 28 Nov 1907, died 29 Nov 1965, X Susara Jacoba Coetzee

Generals of Anglo-Boer War consults Van Rensburg
His visions and dreams came very much to the fore during the Second Anglo Boer War, and the Rebellion of 1914. He consulted General DE LA REY and President STEYN.

In the book: Their Paths Crossed Mine, page 2,3, there is a reference to a vision that van Rensburg had in the presence of General Hertzog, Dr Kestell and Jack Brebner: The seer said in their presence "I see two horsemen crossing the Vaal River. The one carries a white flag and the other a letter, which he is bringing to the president", "and one will stumble over the shaft of the cart." Jack Brebner the Scot then asked for clarification, Are they now fording the Vaal river, the response was yes. Jack looked at his watch and it was ten o'clock. This came to pass with two horsemen coming to bring a letter of peace to the president, the one stumbled according to the seer's description. Brebner also asked them when they crossed the Vaal River and they said ten o'clock.

Hertzog described the seer as one who found it hard to remain concentrated to a point. He lived in a continual maze of visions and symbols. Like somebody eternally twisting the turning-knob of a wireless, hearing senseless noise and discord most of the time. Suddenly the right wavelength is there and harmony comes over the ether.

According to South African government intelligence reports thousands of Afrikaners heeded them and thus joined the rebels in the Civil War Rebellion of 1914. It was the government's view the prophecies of van Rensburg were the principle cause of the rebellion. (Public Record Office, Colonial Office Papers: South Africa, 537/565, 11 November 1914.)

He had visions: of the death of General Botha, the influenza epidemic of 1918, some of his visions even has reference to the Second World War.

He spent most of 1915 in prison due to the Rebellion and he died on the 11 March 1926.

Supernatural or Superstition?
Reytz in his book, Trekking On p 68 wrote about Commandant de la Rey, "I saw his mind affected for his talk was of Christian Science, spiritualism nad the dreams of van Rensburg his tame prophet", he also mentions that de la Rey looked at him strange and then said that he was testing their souls to bring them 'en rapport', Reytz states that this phrase de la Rey must have picked up from a seance.

There had been a magnificent double-tailed meteor in the sky of late, the two streamers of which looked like the letter 'V', and van Rensburg, the General's Prophet, had been giving out that this stood for ' Vrede' (peace), but on this night as we rode along, I heard a boyish voice from the darkness ahead call out: 'Mijnheer van Rensburg, that letter V up there does not mean Vrede, it means Vlug (retreat).' There was wry laughter in the ranks at this sally, which the discomfited oracle bore in meek silence, although it did not diminish his output of prophecies, which continued right up to the peace. From Dennis Reitz in Commando.

Both the believe in the supernatural and superstition (Geloof en Bygeloof) is found amongst the Afrikaner, to be able to discern the one from the other requires Wisdom. Siener van Rensburg stands unique in Afrikaner folklore, and wisdom is required to interpret him. See photo of Siener van Rensburg with his wife (56k).

*Endnote
South Africa has had number of outstanding and eccentric spiritual leaders: Shaykh Yusuf, Nongqawuse, Ghandi, van Rensburg, Stuurman, Boesak, Tutu

References:
Hans van Rensburg, Their Paths Crossed Mine: Memoirs of the Commandant-General of the Ossewa-Brandwag, Central News Agency, 1956.
A.W. Raath, Siener van Rensburg en die Rebellie, 1994
Z.L. Pretorius "Nicolaas Pieter Johannes Jansen van Rensburg" DSAB, Vol IV
A. Grundlingh: "Probing the Prophet" South African Historical Journal.
The Verdict of History: Reflections on the possible influence of "Siener" van Rensburg's visions on General J.H. "Koos" de la Rey and some of the results http://www.rapidttp.co.za/milhist/vol022jo.html

Books written about Siener:

1. "Stem van 'n profeet" deur Adriaan Snyman. There is an English version "Voice of a Prophet" written by Adriaan Snyman.
2. "Boereprofeet" deur Adriaan Snyman.
3. "Siener van Rensburg en die Rebellie" deur prof Andries Raath.
4. Siener van Rensburg: Boodskapper van God, Adriaan Snyman

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