Page 136 - Bulletin 21

133

Gerhardus Christiaan van Blerk (see van Blerks below) who was to become a major investor

and landlord in the area. Further complex subdivisions followed over the years.

In 1897 van Blerk sold two erven (89929 and 89930) to Daniel Johannes van der Westhuizen
– a very old Kalk Bay fishing family. Daniel was born in about 1842 and died in Kalk Bay in

1903. His wife, Antoinette had been married twice before, to George Clarence (d. c. 1858)
and Nicholas Menigo (d. c. 1871). (Fig. 4.19.) She was a remarkable woman – despite losing

three husbands and several children she was still working as a nurse when she died aged 77 in
1908.

There were children from all three marriages (see below.) For the purposes of this property

ownership the family names van der Westhuizen, Menigo and Vercuil are relevant. In terms
of Daniel and Antoinette’s joint will the subdivided property would be left to the van der

Westhuizen children and to their half-brother Nicholas Menigo. It took years and legal

intervention to finalise. Nicholas Menigo was the executor but died before the estate was
wound up. Suffice to say that one portion (erf 89929) stayed in the van der Westhuizen

family. Johannes Vercuil, related by marriage had a cobbler’s shop at the top of the lot from
where he operated for many years – one of at least three cobblers in Kalk Bay. (Fig. 4.20.)

When Johannes Vercuil died aged 80 in 1943 the property was sold to the well-known Kalk

Bay fisherman and personality Jimmy Edwards. The house is still there and is said to be the
last remaining ‘real’ fisherman’s cottage in Kalk Bay. (Figs. 4.21 & 4.22.)

In 1898 Nicholas Menigo had a plan for a house passed. (Fig. 4.23.) It was on the van der
Westhuizen erf (erf 89930) which had been donated to him by his mother and stepfather. It

should be noted that this house is apparently the oldest one continuously occupied by the

same family. If only the walls could talk! The first Nicholas Menigo (known as ‘Clas’ and
spelt Maniego in the Catholic records) is believed to have been one of the crew discharged at

Simon’s Town by the CSC Tuscaloosa in 1863 with Felix Florez. Knowing there were
Filipinos here they walked to Kalk Bay.

Clas became a leading member of the fishing community – his son John Nicholas was one of

the people consulted in the 1902 Harbour review and he was also secretary of the
Fishermen’s Union (see below) and a leading campaigner for improved housing for fishing

families. He was also a verger at Holy Trinity Church. (Figs. 4.24 & 4.25.)