On Wednesday 17 May Professor Kobus du Pisani will be talking on the topic: Between imperialism and nationalism: Jan Smuts 1890-1910.

‘At the age of 20 in 1890 Jan Smuts was  on his way from Stellenbosch to Cambridge to further his studies. At the age of 40 in 1910 his objective of the unification of South Africa was being realised. The two decades between those dates was an eventful period in Smuts’s career: achievements as student in Cambridge (1891-1895), start of career in Cape Town (1895-1897), move to the Transvaal (1897), state attorney of the ZAR (from 1898), bittereinder Boer fighter in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), collaboration with Louis Botha in Transvaal politics (after the war), visit to England and meeting with Campbell-Bannerman (1906), senior politician in the self-governing Transvaal (from 1907), leading figure in the National Convention (1908-1909). After the founding of the National Party in 1914 his adversaries in that party accused Smuts of turning his back on the Afrikaner people and embracing the British Empire. In my talk I’ll argue that this accusation was false propaganda by the Nationalists. In the 1890-1910 period the pragmatic Smuts was forced by changing circumstances to change his political tactics, but the idealistic Smuts remained true to his objectives and allegiances’.

Prof.JA du Pisani  is an extrordinary Professor at Potchefstoom Campus of the Northwest Univeristy, it is a special honour to have him as our guest speaker.

Please book with Valerie at friends@smutshouse.co.za or on 0833251039.

• Time and Date: Wednesday 17th May 18h00 for 18h30.
• Cost:  R150.00 for members and R180 for visitors.
• Payment : Friends of Smuts House, Nedbank, Centurion account number 1621173909. Please mark your deposit with your name and 17th May.
• Please then send proof of payment to friends@smutshouse.co.za
• Bookings close at lunchtime on Tuesday 15 May.