HISTORY OF DIE EIKE

3 November 1835
Die Eike was formerly part of the farm "Groote Vlakte".

Theunis Christoffel Botha was the 6 th  generation in South Africa. On 3 November 1835 he received the 1198 morgen farm Groote Vlakte from his father-in-law, JPJ Jordaan. In 1840 Theunis Botha's tax return showed that he possessed 100 oxen, 150 sheep and goats and harvested 50 mud-bags of grain(three-bushel bags). During that year he also produced half a leaguer of brandy and had to pay ₤1.4 tax. According to the Worcester Quintrens the farm was only awarded to him on 15 March 1841. The following conditions were attached:

The Hot Springs bordering on the farm must remain open to the public as a hot bath. The poor class had the right to free access to the spring. The public who made use of the spring were not permitted to allow their cattle to graze there for longer than 24 hours.

2 April 1863

Pieter Barend Botha (Piet), the 9 th child of Theuns Botha, received 328 morgen of land from his father. The land had to remain in his wife's name, namely Martha Maria Jordaan. They lived in the building (store) next to the present day guest house. During that periot the horse stables, wine cellar and homestead were all in one building. In 1879 he built a new homestead witch is at present the guest house. According to the legend his wife insisted that the house had to have a toilet and he accordingly built her an outside toilet known as the "long-drop". This was the first house in the district to have a toilet.

1895

In 1895 Jacobus Francois Botha (Koos), the 7 th child of Piet Botha, bought according to his mother's testament, the farm "Groote Vlakte" out of her estate for ₤ 2 500. In 1920 one of Koos Botha's sons, Pieter Barend Botha (Piet Bad) hired the Goudini Bad Hotel (Hot Springs) now known as the "ATKV Goudini" from his father. He sold the hotel in 1947.

1932

In 1929 Andries du Toit Botha, the 10 th child of Koos Botha, started to farm on "Groote Vlakte".  On 2 September 1932 his father gave him 174 morgen land. From that date on this piece of ground was known as "Die Eike". In 1944 he upgraded the wine cellar.

1950

From 1950 Jacobus Francois Botha (Kosie), the only son of Andries Botha, started farming on Die Eike. In 1951 he changed the wine cellar to a store. The reason for this was that the Badsberg Co-operative Wine Cellar was founded and from that day on wine was made and marketed in the co-operative manner.

1996

In 1996 Kosie Botha's third son, JF Botha (Kobus), bought Die Eike from him and formed a trust. The present owner's two sons JF and Johan, are now the 12 th generation Botha's in South Africa and the 8 th generation on Die Eike. In 2006 Kobus and his wife Nolene decided to change the original homestead into a guest house. In 2007 they extended the guest house to the building at the rear of the homestead.

"The Rear End Guest House"

The rear end guest house was the first building built on the farm Groote Vlakte. It is unknown when this building was erected. At first it was a coach-house. It was later used as a school building in witch Andries Botha attended school. The school building was changed into a homestead in which Kosie and Annetjie lived until 2004.

Dam fine Café

In 2004 this large cement irrigation dam was changed into a restaurant known as "Dam fine".

  Pieter Barend Botha

16/12/1831 - 12/10/1888

P.B. Botha was the 9 th child of Theunis Christoffel Botha. He was the 7 th generation Botha in South Africa and the 3 rd Botha on the farm Groote Vlakte. Die Eike was at that stage still part of Groote Vlakte. Out of his marriage to Martha Maria Jordaan twelve children were born. In 1879 he built a homestead on Die Eike. The family unit in the guesthouse bearing his name was at that stage not part of the homestead. It was built on later and used as a pantry.

Jacobus Francois Botha (1)

13/2/1865 - 14/6/1929 

J.F. Botha was the 7 th child of Pieter Barend Botha. He was the 8 th generation Botha in South Africa and the 4 th generation Botha on the farm Groote Vlakte. In 1895 he bought the farm out of his mother's estate for ₤2 500. Out of  this Marriage with Rapie du Tiot twelve children were born. The J.F. Botha family unit witch bears his name was used as a lounge in the original homestead. The "concert" room's window sill was used as a stage by the children when concerts were held.

Andries du Toit Botha
 
8/9/1907 - 25/10/1992

Andries du Toit Botha was the 10 th child of J.F Botha. He was the 9 th generation Botha in South Africa and the 5 th generation Botha on the farm Groote Vlakte. On 2 September 1932 he received 174 morgen of land from his father and this became known as "Die Eike". From this marriage to Anna Keet two children were born. He was a well-known leader of various organisations and this lead to his friendship with the first State President of RSA, Mr C.R. (Blackie) Swart. The conference room, which now bears his name, formed the first two rooms of the homestead. The one was Andries's bedroom and the other was the kitchen.

Jacobus Francois Botha (2)

1/3/1932 - 24/1/2004 

Kosie Botha was the eldest son of Andries Botha. He was the 10 th generation Botha in South Afrika and the 6 th generation Botha on Die Eike. On 25 April 1953 he married Anna Catharina Jordaan and they had four children. In 1950 he started to farm on Die Eike. As child his bedroom was the concert room of the guest house. The window sill in the room was used as a stage because it was so wide. The A.C. Botha room was the bedroom of Kosie and Annetjie.

Jacobus Francois Botha (3)

12/4/1961 -

Kobus Botha is the 4 th child of Kosie Botha. He is the 11 th generation Botha in South Africa and the 7 th generation Botha on Die Eike. From his marriage to Nolene Burger two sons, JF and Johan were born. They are now the 8 th generation on Die Eike. Kobus and Nolene have farmed Die Eike from 1983 and in 1996 he bought Die Eike from his father, In 2006 they started the guest house known as Die Eike farm Accommodation.

Jacobus Francois Botha (4)	Johannes Jacobus Botha
3/5/1985 -	17/3/1989 -

 CR (Blackie) Swart

Blackie Swart was a former Minister of Justice. In the late fifties he befriended Andries Botha and became a regular guest at Die Eike. The President's Suite in the guest house was named in his honour as this is where he always slept when visiting Die Eike.