Main Article Content

Die aard van sport en spele in die konsentrasiekampe tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog, 1899-1902


Floris JG van der Merwe

Abstract

The findings of this study revealed that in spite of the hardship and depression associated with life in the concentration camps, the inmates also had the opportunity to play. As play is an inherent need of a child, it is not surprising that play would feature in those circumstances although the intensity of participation differed for individuals or at the various camps. It is probably reasonable to speculate that participating in sport and games no doubt brought some relief to the gloom and doom of war. The game of marbles was the most popular game among the children, however, other games such as clay-stick, quoits, button games, five-stones, rope skipping and games with wire and tin toys were also prevalent. The camp authorities went out of their way to introduce sports such as athletics, football, tennis and cricket to promote and accelerate their Anglicisation policy. Especially celebrations such as Christmas, New Year, Easter and the birthday and coronation of King Edward VII were used for this purpose. The sport culture established in this way in the camps endured until after the war when it spread throughout the whole country.

South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 27(2) 2005: 129-141

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2960-2386
print ISSN: 0379-9069