Michael Adriaan van den Berg

25 Apr 1906 – 21 Feb 1988

Miner, Farmer, Family Man, and Recipient of a Bravery Award

Gallery:

Story Introduction:

Some men live quiet lives and leave little trace behind. Others leave behind stories that are passed from one generation to the next because their actions revealed something about their character. Michael Adriaan van den Berg was one of those men.

He spent most of his life working in the South African gold mining industry, helping to build and support his family through years of economic change, industrial growth, and hardship. Although he never sought recognition, one incident underground would later earn him a bravery award after he risked his own life to save a fellow miner.

Yet those who knew him best remembered him not for medals or achievements, but for his kindness, devotion to family, love of fishing, and lifelong affection for his beloved Fox Terrier dogs.

Michael Adriaan van den Berg was born on 25 April 1906. He attended primary school in the Bank district and completed Standard Six. During these years he lived on the farm of Jan Norke, who played an important role in his upbringing. South Africa during his youth was changing rapidly. The Anglo-Boer War had ended only a few years earlier, and many farming families were rebuilding their lives. At the same time, the mining industry on the Witwatersrand was expanding rapidly, creating opportunities for young men willing to work underground.

Like many young men of his generation, Michael was drawn to the mines. He studied through the West Rand School of Mines.

He later qualified as a miner. He eventually joined Venterspost Mine, where he worked at Number One Shaft.The family initially lived at 121 Carlton Street, Venterspost, before later moving to 8 Joan Street.

Michael married Johanna Androjetta Rheeders. Together they experienced both joy and sorrow. Their first son, Michael Adriaan van den Berg, was born on 8 October 1927 but sadly died shortly after birth. A second son, also named Michael Adriaan van den Berg, was born on 23 December 1928 at Randpoort. A third child, Zacharias Joseph van den Berg, was born on 14 October 1930.

Later the family welcomed Anna Johanna into their home and raised her as part of the family.

The Venterspost Mine Rescue – 1940

One of the most remarkable events in Michael’s life occurred while working underground on night shift. During blasting preparations, miners were planting dynamite charges when fellow miner Johan Schoeman found himself in serious danger. A rope that was needed was not lowered, and Johan became trapped. He called for assistance. Without hesitation Michael descended the ladder to help him. He succeeded in pulling Johan to safety, but moments later the dynamite exploded. Falling rocks struck Michael and rendered him unconscious. For his courage and selfless actions, he received a gold watch and a Medal for Bravery.

On 10 September 1940, Michael Adriaan van den Berg was awarded a bravery medal by the Transvaal Chamber of Mines in recognition of his courage during rescue operations at the Venterspost Mine Site. The medal, which remains in family possession, provides documentary evidence of an act of heroism performed during his mining career.Mining remained dangerous work throughout his career.

Chamber of Mines Medal

Inscription on Medal

At a later stage, another underground accident occurred when a rockfall damaged ventilation pipes, which collapsed onto him. He sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Cottesloe Hospital in Johannesburg for treatment. Despite these dangers, he continued working and providing for his family.

During their years in Carletonville, Michael and Johanna lived within walking distance of the town centre, close to a motor garage just off the main street.

One of the family’s fondest memories was their little dog, Tiekie, a white fluffy dog with brown markings. Tiekie could dance and became something of a family celebrity. Every year he was given a special birthday cake decorated with cherries. Family parties were often held in the garden, where grandchildren Michael, Kobie and others played together. Photographs of these gatherings were kept by the family.

Their granddaughter remembered staying with her grandparents for eight months while recovering from rheumatic fever during Standard One. At the time she attended the local primary school, which was situated on the opposite side of the main street from their home. These months created many happy memories and allowed her to experience daily life with her grandparents at close hand.

For a period he also farmed tobacco at Bokfontein near Brits. Like many mining families of the period, he moved between farming and mining whenever opportunities arose. Later he joined West Driefontein Mine, working at Number Three Shaft while the family remained in Venterspost.

Those who knew Michael remembered him as a friendly and approachable family man. He loved dogs and throughout his life kept Fox Terriers. He was also fond of Volkswagen motorcars and remained loyal to the brand for many years.

After his retirement, Michael and Johanna moved to the Dreyer family farm, Weltevrede, where they lived for a period in the old farmhouse and attempted small-scale farming. They kept cattle, chickens, and cultivated tomatoes. Milk and butter produced on the farm were sold to Oom Hennie Strydom and other residents of Fochville.

From Weltevrede they later relocated to 119 Baylie Street, Ramsgate on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. During this period Michael occasionally undertook contract work involving quarry blasting near Doomside in 1965. They settled at 7 Strachan Street, Ramsgate. These years became some of the happiest in their lives. Their children and grandchildren regularly spent holidays with them at the coast. Family memories are filled with fishing trips, beach outings, and long summer holidays.

Michael was an enthusiastic fisherman. He and his son Michael often rose before sunrise to fish for shad from the rocks. At other times they fished from the beach along the South Coast. His grandchildren also remembered another of his habits — the Texan cigarettes he smoked throughout much of his life.

Michael was well known within the family for making mampoer. Using a large steam pot in an outside room, he distilled mampoer from surplus grapes and fruit grown on the property. Family members often visited to assist him, and the process became one of the memorable traditions associated with him.

He had a special nickname for Johanna and affectionately called her “Skattebol”. She was renowned for her baking and was particularly famous for her delicious Hertzog tarts and jam tarts, which became family favourites.

The couple remained in Ramsgate, until after Johanna’s death. At one stage they spent two weeks visiting their family at the Marikana Dutch Reformed Church parsonage. During the visit Johanna became seriously ill and was later admitted to hospital in Rustenburg, where she passed away.

After Johanna’s death, Michael frequently visited Weltevrede in his red Volkswagen. He enjoyed spending time on the farm and often helped with the distilling of mampoer. Johanna passed away before her husband. After her death, Michael’s health gradually declined. In his later years his health deteriorated further as a result of tuberculosis and the long-term effects of mining-related illness. His son eventually arranged for him to be admitted to a hospital near Robinson, where he spent the final year or two of his life before passing away 21 February 1988.

Looking back now, Michael Adriaan van den Berg’s life reflects the story of many South African men of his generation. He experienced the growth of the mining industry, survived dangerous underground working conditions, farmed when opportunities arose, raised a family, enjoyed retirement at the coast, and remained devoted to the people around him.

Through family memories, photographs, mining records, and the story of his bravery underground, Michael Adriaan van den Berg is remembered as a courageous miner, devoted family man, and a man who never hesitated when someone needed help.

Historical Timeline:

Year	Event
25 Apr 1906	Michael Adriaan van den Berg born
c.1912–1919	Attended school in the Bank district and completed Standard Six
Early 1920s	Studied through the West Rand School of Mines
1920s	Qualified as a miner
1920s	Began employment at Venterspost Mine, Number One Shaft
8 Oct 1927	First son, Michael Adriaan van den Berg, born and died shortly afterwards
23 Dec 1928	Second son, Michael Adriaan van den Berg, born at Randpoort
14 Oct 1930	Zacharias Joseph van den Berg born
Unknown date	Family welcomed Anna Johanna into their home
Unknown date	Saved fellow miner Johan Schoeman underground and received a King’s Medal and gold watch for bravery
Unknown date	Injured in underground rockfall accident and admitted to hospital
Unknown date	Farmed tobacco at Bokfontein near Brits
Later years	Retired and moved to 7 Strachan Street, Ramsgate
1965–1980s	Enjoyed fishing and family holidays on the South Coast
1970 – 1975	Stayed for a period on the Dreyer family farm Weltevrede
Later years	Moved to 119 Baylie Street, Ramsgate
Before 1988	Wife Johanna Androjetta van den Berg passed away
21 Feb 1988	Michael Adriaan van den Berg died at Robinson Hospital

Open Questions:

Despite the surviving family memories, several important questions remain:

• Can the exact date of Michael’s marriage to Johanna Androjetta Rheeders be confirmed?
• Can official mining records relating to the bravery award be located?
• Are there surviving newspaper reports describing the rescue of Johan Schoeman?
• Can the King’s Medal citation still be found?
• Are there surviving photographs of Michael during his mining years?
• Can the dates of his employment at Venterspost and West Driefontein be established?
• Can additional records be found relating to his tobacco farming activities at Bokfontein?
• Are there surviving family letters or documents from the Ramsgate years?
• Can the exact burial details of Michael and Johanna be confirmed?
• Are there descendants who still preserve stories, photographs, or memorabilia connected to his mining career?