Page 13 - VHSA - Onderstepoort 100 Years - Part 1

of Education, F.S. Malan, to appoint a committee to investigate the feasibility of establishing a School of Veterinary Science in South Africa in order to reduce the country’s dependence on imported veterinarians. The committee consisted of the Under- Secretary of Education, G.M. Hofmeyr, as
ONDERSTEPOORT 100
at Onderstepoort, which he believed would be in the best interests of both the research laboratory and the faculty. The implication that the Director of Veterinary Research would also accept the duties of Dean and his staff those of teaching
chairman, A. Theiler, R.E. Montgomery, A.I.
Perold, professor of viticulture and oenology
from the University of Stellenbosch, F.B.
Smith, P.R. Viljoen, E.C. Gray, Principle
Veterinary Officer, and representatives of
the Witwatersrand and Rhodes Universities.
This triggered a competition between uni-
versities to accommodate such a faculty. The
Transvaal University College (TUC) (later the
University of Pretoria) had already invited
Theiler to establish a veterinary faculty
and act as its first dean. In April 1919 the
University of the Witwatersrand offered
him the position of dean of the veterinary
school which it was planning within its
Faculty of Medicine. Theiler declined, as
he had previously done with the proposal
of Stellenbosch, which then approached du Toit who was temporarily stranded in London.
met with opposition in the committee and it was clear that Montgomery was not in favour of the ‘widely extended responsibilities’. It was eventually decided to refer the recommendation to the Prime Minister for a decision. General Botha had just returned with General Smuts from Europe on 24 July, after the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles.
Theiler was still anxious to return to Switzerland and decided not to accept the position himself. Privately he wrote, how- ever, that he did not regard Montgomery as suitable for the post and expressed the hope that du Toit would fulfill the require- ments. The unexpected sudden death of Louis Botha on 27 August 1919 was a blow
to Theiler who had an excellent working relationship with him and uncertainty about the future followed the appoint- ment of Smuts as his successor. Presumably the political un- certainty as well as his disagreement with Theiler about the future of Onderstepoort led to disillusionment on the part
of the University When the committee met in July Theiler fought hard
for the establishment of the proposed veterinary school
“The unexpected sudden death of Louis Botha on 27 August 1919 was a blow to Theiler who had an excellent working relationship with him and uncertainty about the future followed the appointment of Smuts as his successor.”
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Cattle being dosed with bonemeal at Armoedsvlakte
Early days (1908-1927)
1908-2008
Years