Womens Monument – Bloemfontein

The Anglo Boer War Women’s  Monument opened on 16 December 1913, commemorates the 26370 Boer lives of women and children who died in the concentration camps during the Anglo Boer War of 1899 to 1902.

The monument area also commemorates the Burgers killed during the war, and successfully draws out the emotions experienced by departing Commando’s, the pain of a child dying in his mothers arms, and the extent of the losses inflicted on civilians and combatants. Most of the deaths and suffering was borne by the civilian population, both black and white.

This is the burial place of Marthinus and Rachel Steyn, Steyn being the President of the Vrytstaat Boer Republic at the time . It is also the burial place of Emily Hobhouse (27 Oct 1926), who was revered by the Boers for highlighting the atrocious treatment and conditions in the Concentration Camps scattered throughout South Africa.

The Anton Von Wouw sculptures depict this misery, and one cant leave without feeling a sense of despondency, sadness, or I suppose in some cases shame.