1951 (Part 2)

In a letter to the Health Department, the Village Management Board notes that two coloured people have died from Tuberculosis (TB). There is no separate facilities in the location for such cases, but they blame the TB cases on the coloured people because they do not work to look after their health. The Board is considering getting a registered coloured nurse for the coloured people.

The nearest clinic and doctor for Riebeek Kasteel at the time was situated 5 kilometres away in Riebeek West. For the white community who had vehicles, it was not a far drive. However, the Oukloof community did not own vehicles during the 1950s and very few owned a donkey and cart. For them, doctors were not easily accessible. The coloured community made use of home remedies. Women like Ouma Eva Claasen and Maria Valentyn were known as the “vroedvroue” or midwives in the community. Whether they were formally registered is not known, but they performed the role of “catching babies” especially at night when coloured women were unable to travel to Riebeek West or a nurse was unable to come to the location.

Reference:
Cape Town Records Centre: SGD 163 2/4/124 1951 Health Report