Plett Watercourse History Fest
Category What's happening in Plettenberg Bay
Plett Tourism introduces the first Plett Watercourse History Fest offering a variety of programmes for both locals and visitors to experience the Southern Cape's unique cultural heritage and historical resources.
The organisers have organised three days of presentations and debate to introduce two eras in Southern Cape history: the period of Early Modern Humans and that of so-called 'First People'.
Amongst the esteemed presenters are our own local Prof Mike de Jongh, who will be talking about the Hessequa in the Western Cape, and his daughter Dr Joané Swart who will give a presentation on early Rock Art.
The Programme as advertised by Plett Tourism:
Thursday 13 February
- 09h00 at the Piesang Valley Community Hall, entrance R100: Professor Sarah Wurz of the University of the Witwatersrand will give a presentation on Early Modern Humans at Klasies River Mouth.
- 11h30 at the Piesang Valley Community Hall, entrance R100: Joané Swart will give a presentation on early Rock Art
- 14h00 at the Methodist Church, Marine Drive, entrance FREE: Open Public Debate: "Can the Evidence from Science be Reconciled with Religious Faith?" with former cosmologist, Martin Wolfaardt
Friday 14 February
- 09h00 at the Piesang Valley Community Hall, entrance R100: Professor Mike de Jongh will speak about the Hessequa of the Southern Cape
- 11h30 at the Piesang Valley Community Hall, entrance R100: The Griqua National Council will talk about their latest book on the official History of the Griqua Nation.
- 14h00 at a venue to be announced, entrance FREE: Open Public Discussion: "Is Toenadering Possible in the Face of Race, Class, and Language Differences?" with Ron Martin, member of the Executive Committee, National Khoisan Council
Saturday 15 February
- All day, throughout Plett: Everyone is invited to talk about popular history, biographies and memoirs. 08h00 at a venue to be confirmed: Alan Landau, author of the popular Langbourne series will talk about the ill-fated Shangani Patrol.
- 10h30 and 15h30: David Bristow will present his latest book on Twenty Amazing Places in South Africa: Hominins, Hunter-Gatherers and Heroes
- 13h30: Leigh Dunn will walk his guests from the car park of the beautifully restored Old Rectory (above Hobie Beach) up to the boundary stone set up by Baron von Plettenberg in the 1700s and talk about the early families of Plettenberg Bay who became victims of the Group Areas Act in two hundred years later.
Author: Helen Ward