Wolraad Woltemade:
The Hero Farmer of the Cape
Among the many figures remembered in South African history, few have become as legendary as Wolraad Woltemade.
His story is one of courage, sacrifice and humanity during one of the Cape’s most dramatic maritime disasters.
Today, a statue of Wolraad Woltemade stands in Friends of Loxton Heritage Park, reminding visitors that the history of Cape Town was shaped not only by governors, soldiers and merchants, but also by ordinary settlers whose actions left an extraordinary legacy.
A Man of the Dutch East India Company
Wolraad Woltemade was born in Germany around 1708 and later travelled to the Cape Colony, then governed by the Dutch East India Company (VOC – Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie).
Like many European settlers of the period, he worked for the VOC, reportedly first as a soldier and later as a dairyman and farmer.
By the mid-1700s he had become part of the growing agricultural community that supplied food to ships stopping at the Cape of Good Hope.
The Early Farming Landscape of Milnerton
Long before modern Milnerton, Century City and the surrounding suburbs existed, the area consisted of wetlands, grazing lands and agricultural holdings.
Woltemade is closely associated with the farm known as Klein Zoar, situated near what is now the Milnerton and Zoarvlei area. Historical accounts place his home and dairy operations in this region.
The land surrounding present-day Zoarvlei formed part of the agricultural belt that helped sustain Cape Town’s growing population and the thousands of sailors who passed through Table Bay each year.
Dairy farming was particularly important because ships arriving after months at sea required fresh food supplies to combat disease and malnutrition.
In many ways, farmers such as Woltemade were just as essential to the success of the Cape settlement as the sailors and merchants who travelled through it.
The Cape as a Maritime Gateway
Although the Dutch East India Company initially focused more attention on salvaging valuable cargo than on honouring Woltemade’s sacrifice, public admiration for his bravery steadily grew.
His story was recorded by Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg, who witnessed events at the Cape and helped preserve the account for future generations.
Over time Woltemade became one of the most celebrated heroes in South African history.
His name was later given to:
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A Cape Town railway station
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South African bravery decorations
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Ships and rescue vessels
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Streets and public landmarks
His image became a symbol of selfless courage.
The Wreck of the De Jonge Thomas
On 1 June 1773, during a violent winter storm, a Dutch East India Company ship called De Jonge Thomas was driven onto a sandbank near the mouth of the Salt River in Table Bay.
The vessel began breaking apart in the heavy surf.
Many sailors attempted to swim ashore but were overcome by freezing water, strong currents and rough seas. Crowds gathered on the beach as the disaster unfolded. Among them was Woltemade’s son, Corporal Christian Ludwig Woltemade, who was serving with troops guarding the wreck and its cargo.
A Ride Into History
Wolraad Woltemade arrived at the shoreline on horseback.
Seeing that the stranded sailors had little chance of survival, he rode his horse directly into the crashing surf.
He instructed two sailors at a time to hold onto the horse while he guided the animal back to shore.
Again and again he returned to the wreck.
Seven times he successfully entered the sea and rescued two men.
In total, fourteen sailors were saved through his efforts.
Then came the final attempt.
As the wreck began to collapse, desperate survivors rushed toward the horse. Too many men grabbed hold at once. The exhausted horse and rider were dragged beneath the waves.
Wolraad Woltemade drowned alongside those he had tried to save.
His body was recovered the following day.
A Cape Legend
To replace the original fort, the VOC began constructing a more permanent stone fortress in 1666.
This became:
The Castle of Good Hope
Construction was completed in 1679.
The Castle remains the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa and one of the best-preserved examples of a 17th-century VOC fortress in the world.
The Castle served as:
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Military headquarters
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Government centre
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Administrative offices
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Warehouse
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Prison
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Residence for senior officials
For many years it formed the centre of colonial life at the Cape.
Why Woltemade Matters to Loxton Heritage Park
The story of Wolraad Woltemade is not only a story about bravery.
It is also the story of the early Cape itself.
His life connects:
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The Dutch East India Company
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Early farming communities
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The development of Milnerton
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Table Bay’s maritime history
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The relationship between land and sea
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The people who supplied the Cape settlement
Standing beside his statue in Friends of Loxton Heritage Park, visitors are reminded that the growth of Cape Town depended not only on ships arriving from distant lands, but also on the farmers who worked the soil around places like Zoarvlei and Milnerton.
Woltemade’s sacrifice transformed him from a local dairy farmer into one of the enduring heroes of South African history.
More than 250 years later, his story remains a powerful example of courage, compassion and service to others.