He collaborated with Rev HA du T van Niekerk in the operation of the "Manganese Mission Group", which worked in Danielskuil, Olifantshoek and Deben in the early 1960s.
Rev Hendrik van Niekerk was born in 1923. He began his career in NG Bantu Mission Church in Postmasburg in 1958, until 1962. During this time, he established an NG Church mission to coloured and black people in Danielskuil, Deben and Olifantshoek; this mission was called the "Mangaan (manganese) Sendinggroep". However, this collaboration only lasted a few years. Subsequently, he worked at Hennenman (Free State), Koue Bokkeveld, Bredasdorp, and Strand. He then served as Mission Secretary in the Western Cape, and was the Secretary of the Bible Society of South Africa. He retired in 1996, and died in 2014.
Rev Hendrik Vrede van Huyssteen was born in 1903, in Jagersfontein, just after the Anglo-Boer War, which may explain his second name "Vrede" (Peace") His father was the NG Church Dominee in Jagersfontein. He studied at the Mission Institute at Wellington, and attended the Louisville Seminary in Kentucky, USA. He always worked in mission congregations. from 1932, in several remote towns: Kenhardt (1932), Brandvlei (1936), Griquatown (1940), Burgersdorp (1941), Durbanville (1942), Hartbeesfontein (1944), Vrede (1947), Delarey (1948), Victoria West (1950) and Hofmeyr (1954). He retired in 1958.
Rev HJ Strauss joined the church in 1935. He first worked in Roossenekal and Epping, before he joined the Danielskuil congregation in 1946, In 1949, he moved to Beaufort West. He served on several synodal commissions before his unexpected death in 1958, at the age of 50.
Rev David Stefanus Lubbe joined the church in 1930. He was the Dominee in Koster (1931), Danielskuil (1937), Edenvale (1944), De Rust (1947), Ladybrand 91953) and Brakpan (1965). he retired in 1966, but continued to support various congregations.
Rev Sarel Christiaan Jooste served in 10 mission congregations for the 34 years of his career, despite frequent poor health. in 1940, he qualified at the Wellington Mission Institute.
Rev Jasper Anthonie Hough began his career in Danielskuil in 1950, until 1958. Thereafter he served in Johannesburg, then in London (for South African expatriates), and in 1970 began work in Alberton. He retired in 1988.
London Missionary Society. One of Rev Haai's ancestors was Hans Haai, a formidable hunter whose exploits stretched from Danielskuil to Zimbabwe, in the years up to 1870.He often accompanied European hunters, traders adn missionaries, such as Edward Chapman of Kuruman (PHR Snyman, Danielskuil: Van Griekwa-buitepos tot dienssentrum, HSRC, 1988, p. 19). Another ancestor was Isaac Haai, who served in the Griqua Council of the Waterboer government, based at Griquatown (Snyman 1988, p. 23). The Haai family received land in the 1870s, when the new Griqualand West colonial government allocated some farms to leading Griqua. Isaac Haai received Kalkfontein, while Cobus Haai received Vlakfontein (Snyman 1988, p. 28). In the 1880s, Isaac and Samuel Haai were of the very few Griqua who could afford erven in Danielskuil town (Snyman 1988, p. 36), being part of a small indigenous economic elite living in a growing sea of poverty. Rev Bart Haai grew up in Danielskuil, and started his clerical career in Danielskuil in 1919. He soon became a local leader. He served as chair of the "Location Advisory Committee", to provide recommendations to the white-controlled Town Council. He argued for compensation for people who lost their homes as a result of forced removals, but this was rejected by the Council. He also lobbied for water to be provided to the new location (Snyman 1988, p. 89). His family was one of the last non-white families to have the means to live in the white town, at a time when black and coloured farmilies' rights and livelihoods were increasingly undermined by municipal policies, and they generally became a landless proletariat. For decades, Rev Haai travelled the region by horse or donkey-cart, and in 1931. the LMS purchased a motor vehicle for him.He worked alongside notable clergy at Kuruman, including J Tom Brown, AE Jennings and HC Thompson. He retired in 1963, and died in 1969, and was succeeded by Rev Esias Arends (Snyman 1988, p. 131).
Rev Victor du Plessis joined the ministry in 1935. He served in NG missions in Hobhouse, Warden, harrismith, and from 1948, in Kuruman, until his retirement. After 1948, he served in Kuruman's NG mission. He also served in broader governance positions in the NG mission, inlcuding the first moderator of the Regional Synod of Phororo (NG Church in Africa), which was established in1966. He served in various roles in the NG synod, and was a delegate to the General Synod of the NG Church in Africa.
Rev David Matthys Christoffel de Koker grew up in the Kuruman district, where he matriculated at Seodin High School. He studied at the Wellington Mission Institute and thereafter he studied medicine in England. In 1937, he joined the Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), as part of the Free State mission. He became an excellent missionary who learnt the local language. in 1939, he married Louise van der Westhuizen in Deben. He served in Danielskuil between 1966 and 1977, when he retired.
