An old Oranjemunder asked me to find out if the Police station in Oranjemund was always situated where it currently is, does the house opposite the 7 sister rocks with the police cells built in the back garden form part of the old police station? Was the original police station situated here at the house opposite the 7 sister rocks? Where was Oranjemund's first police station?
The original police station was outside the town on the way to the mine (where the old security offices were), then moved to the house oppisite the rocks then moved to where it currently is.
Thanks Dalene, was the place always called the ORANJEMUND POLICE STATION, or did it go by another name?
are-you-there
As far as I know, yes it was. I've never known it by another name.
The original Police station was were the Security dog cennels are now. Then they have moved to 21 Outer Cresent. After that they have moved to where they are now. Ingrid and I stayed in that house in 21 Outer Cresent from 1980 to 1988.
The first police station was on the west side of the old power station, about in line with sixth or seventh avenue. In fact the exact spot was right in Chris Gericke's lounge, if anyone can recall his address. Look up "Farewell Pat", one of the child boards under "The Community". There's a description of Sergeant Pat Honeyborne wearily riding his camel home after a long patrol back in the Forties.
Camels were dispensed with in 1949 and the police post was then moved to a position just outside the town gate heading west to the mine. Sergeant Kruger, or PPJ as he was known to all, was in charge in my day, the sole cop in town.
He was a laissez faire character who ruled the community with a velvet glove and could smooth out most situations before they got ugly. My favourite story about PPJ was when he arrested a young theological student who had a summer job at the HMS, the central screening plant.
The youngster had naively (to give him the benefit of the doubt) collected a handful of diamonds he had found on the screens and took them to his room in the single quarters where he openly displayed them. It wasn't long before he was busted, fired and handed over to the law. PPJ did the honours, locking him up in the solitary cell behind the police house which served as the station. The cell was a corrugated iron pondok with one ordinary lightly barred window and a padlock on the door.
PPJ, justice done, then came into to his house to eat dinner, normally waiting for him on the table. But on that night there was no sign of the usual delicious meal usually served by his ever-loving wife. In place of the love of his life he found a frowning female, arms folded, glowering at him.
"Paul Pretorius Johannes," she addressed him. That was when PPJ knew he was in trouble. Only his mother had ever used that name, usually just before administering some painful correction.
"Paul Pretorius Johannes," she repeated. "There won't be a bite on this table until you unlock that child and bring him in here to eat with us."
Needless to say the long arm of the law did just as he was told. The youngster also spent the night in the guest room and was next day taken by the DDD (Diamond Detective Department) to Luderitz where he was admonished by the magistrate and discharged, I assume to a long and commendable life as a predikant.
Funny old place, Oranjemund!
Nice story Bob I still visit with his son Jacob who married Glynis Young. Just a little correction PPJ's full name was Petrus Paulus Jacobus. I can well imagine Tannie Joey doing that. A lovely lady who is still with us and living in George.
Evening to you Eugene Barnes,must be a while since i talked to to you,hope everythings still well with you guys....... woo_hoo
Thanks for that Bob, enjoyed the read!
Funny how my dad's predecessor's wife name was also Joey ~ same as my mom's name.
Heard many stories about PPJ and my dad had big shoes to fill when he arrived in Oranjemund.
Hey Dalene,me and your brother had some fun at the old police station,not saying which one otherwise ....... yesno missed you in CAPE TWN this weekend
ill-3d image281,,
That was a nice story Bob.
When we arived in Oranjemund Mr. Pat Honeyborne (as he was known then), was in charge of all the issued furniture. If you needed a new peice of furniture, he was the man to see. He used to entertain us boy scouts by telling us stories of his police days in the dessert.
Sgt. Zietsman was then the local cop.
Mr. Tommy Slow later took on the job of furniture storeman.
Mmm and Tommy Slow matched his name .. my Mom always said it ... a courteous well mannered soul but Sloow in speech and action she would say, but ultimately got the job done ..
OK!................................ do any of you know the name of the policeman in Oranjemund in 69 (http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSi6T1b3vQXUJLQYY05fT0NE2mgC8_7VBTD-GKSEx7-s0kGtxYmYA)
I think it was PPJ Kruger.
Thanks Mavis! giverose....... for that information I have an official document signed by W.Wessels was he anything to do with the magistrate or law enforcement section at that time.................................... image04
In my time 1970 to 1983 the police station was in a cluster of buildings on the right side of the road leading into the mine. In fact our Commando HQ was also situated in this complex. We used to depart from this point when we went on our annual Commando camps in the desert north of Kolmanskop. Before that the Commando HQ was next to the Power Station if I recall correctly.
Leon
Wessels was the magistrate ..PPJ Kruger was the policeman ,,
Thanks for that information Sandy!...............now you are thinking what the hell was Frank mixed up with Oranjemunds magistrate... image04(http://l.thumbs.canstockphoto.com/canstock3160975.jpg)
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No ask no answer hey ... I remember the man he was short stocky ,,My one cat that relocated from someone else then decided to move on to his house in 5th avenue .. a pleasant chap , but then dont be on the wrong side of the law ...
I thought him less than pleasant, officious in fact and very aware of his status. He later became the South African Postmaster General. That was about ten years back. Dunno what's happened to him since.
my experience was as a child , so did not get the officious treatment ...
That's OK Sandy! when I came to Oranjemund I only had a motor cycle licence the document I was referring to is a driving licence so it must have been PPJ Kruger who sat beside me while he examined my motoring skill.
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I remember the little Ford Anglia and PPJ was quite a large person ( you would not want to argue with) got in the passenger side and motioned me to commence the test saying 'I hope you are not wasting my time' we drove out of town towards Central Fields then so far along the road we turned right and drove up to the railway line with this stop sign out there in the desert. I had been forewarned of this being aware that you had to come to a dead stop although there was f*** all there you had to stop and maybe there was some building there could have been the police station.
We returned to town and received my driving licence I still have it the guy that signed it W Wessels did it in black ink (I think he did it with a feather quill) and my surname the first letter being B was just a blob so he had to make a smaller letter B above the ink blob. In further posts Bob Molloy mentioned he became Postmaster General hope he got rid of his Quill.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Out_of_ink.jpg/250px-Out_of_ink.jpg).................... image04