Catherine

@ginnydmm I had the privilege of meeting 1 of these polish survivors and she has so many interesting stories..her last comment was I am a Polish-South African and very proud to be 1...

The Polish Orphans of Oudtshoorn 👩🏼‍🎓🧐 During the Second World War, an extraordinary but little known episode unfolded in the Klein Karoo. In 1943, several hundred Polish children, most of them orphaned by war, found refuge in Oudtshoorn. Their arrival marked the end of a long and traumatic journey that began in occupied Poland and passed through some of the harshest environments of the conflict. In September 1939, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany from the west and the Soviet Union from the east. After the Soviet occupation of eastern Poland, tens of thousands of Polish civilians were arrested and deported to remote regions of Siberia and Central Asia. Entire families were sent to labour camps or forced settlements, where food was scarce and disease was common. Many adults died from exhaustion, hunger, or illness, leaving behind large numbers of orphaned children. A turning point came in 1941, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. A political agreement between the Soviet authorities and the Polish government-in-exile allowed some Polish civilians to leave the USSR. The evacuation was dangerous and chaotic. Survivors travelled thousands of kilometres, often on foot or in overcrowded trains, heading south through Central Asia toward Iran. Many died along the way. In Iran, refugee camps were established to care for Polish civilians, including many unaccompanied children. From these camps, a group of about 500 orphans was selected for resettlement in South Africa. Prime Minister Jan Smuts agreed to accept them, viewing the decision as a humanitarian response to the suffering of displaced children. In 1943, the children left Iran aboard the British troopship Dunera. For many, it was their first real sense of safety after years of fear and uncertainty. Survivors later recalled the anxiety of the voyage, heightened by rumours that another ship carrying Polish refugees had been sunk during the war. When the Dunera reached Port Elizabeth safely, it marked a profound turning point in their lives. From the coast, the children were taken inland to Oudtshoorn, where a special camp had been established. Known as Dom Polskich Dzieci (Home of Polish Children), the camp consisted of wooden barracks and was staffed largely by Polish teachers and priests. Their aim was to restore stability and a sense of normal life. A central figure was Father Franciszek Kubiński, whose guidance and care were remembered with gratitude by many of the children. Education formed the heart of daily life at the camp. Lessons were taught in Polish, alongside instruction about South Africa and its history. Catholic religious practice was maintained, and Polish traditions were carefully preserved. Christmas, Easter, and national commemorations were celebrated, helping the children maintain a connection to their cultural roots. The Oudtshoorn camp closed in 1947 as the children grew older and the post war world began to stabilise. Some were placed in boarding schools or orphanages across South Africa. Many remained in the country as adults, while others later emigrated to Canada, Australia, or the United States. The story of the Polish orphans of Oudtshoorn stands as a moving reminder of the lasting impact of war on children, and of South Africa’s role in offering refuge during one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.

@AzatAlsalim About time

French patriots gathered to sing the Marseillaise and prevented an Islamist prayer in the street… Thoughts?

@CityPowerJhb We understand no etr but can you give us a ballpark time? ....1hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours? Any ballpark? Surely you know by now more.or less.

#CityPowerUpdates #RoodepoortSDC The team is currently on site busy with repairs on the faulty Mini-substation that affects customers in Weltevredenpark and surrounds. Estimated Time of Restoration is not confirmed yet. Affected customers will be updated on developments. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. ^HN

@twatterbaas Did you 'paw-cuff' him and put him on trial 🤔 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

I just found the guy stealing my Macadamia nuts in the shed. Never a dull moment in Africa!!

@RenaldoGouws That's all they have is lies and threats... they have nothing else to offer

Social grants and NSFAS are funded by the taxpayers and not the ANC. So why would it disappear? In actual fact, less of it will be stolen and more will be made available to those that need it most. Stop using fear and lies to get people to vote for you.

@PSAFLIVE How trained were her body guards 1 to get robbed? 2 to have their firearms taken from them? The tax payer pays thousands so the useless government can be protected & they still failed the kicker....don't report it 🙄 seriously more firearms in the hands of criminals 🤬🤬🤬

BREAKING NEWS: The minister of Transport Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga was robbed between N3 Vosloorus & Heidelberg on Sunday night. state firearms, cellphones were stolen from the bodyguards. Instructions were allegedly made not to open a case for investigation, this was an attempt to hide the scourge of crime committed by illegal foreigners in South Africa and for the media to remain in the dark.

@DailyInvestorSA Just a question Why are we the tax payer paying 'extra' to Sandf surely they have a budget and the 'soldiers' are paid from that budget...so why are there extra costs Is this another money shifting exercise...hoping none of us would notice 🤔🤬

Eskom army deployment to cost taxpayers R111 million South African taxpayers will foot a substantial bill for the deployment of 880 SANDF members to protect Eskom assets. dailyinvestor.com/energy/36864/e…

@daveatherton Send them to Palestine if they love it so much

At the Fox pub in Twickenham 3 thugs, aged 17 & 18, chanted "Allah Akbar" & "free Palestine" ripped down a Union Jack & tried to burn it. A regular collar one of them & detained until the police arrived. All 3 are arrested on suspicion of criminal damage & racial hatred. msn.com/en-gb/news/ukn…

@BarneySimon Depeche Mode in Standard bank arena JHB 5weeks after seeing them in Wembly stadium London - what a concert what a venue In JHB I felt like I was on stage with them 😆 still an amazing concert as well

And go! #BiggestMusicAct

@cctvidiots Pre or post cANCer times?

Without Googling, name something South Africa invented

@wayneduv How could they stop it when they were committing it 🤔🤣🤔🤣

No sh!t Sherlock! Mbalula: ANC should have acted faster and decisively to stop corruption | The Citizen citizen.co.za/news/south-afr…

@Porschephile_1 Was it a South African advert for a South African product 🤔 😉 🤣

WTF! I just saw a white person in an advertisement on TV! 👀

@Buhlenomuhle Keep praying together ❤

Without being jealous, what can you advise them as adults😊😊

@SABCNews 🤣🤣🤣🤣which December 🤔🤔🤔🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula expresses the party’s confidence in bringing an end to rolling blackouts by December. ow.ly/AEuw50Pcm76

@TryMe93556899 There must be one of their rallies on or a party for the corrupted counterparts

Explain to me, how Eskom can go from stage 6 loadshedding i.e 10 hours without electricity one minute to no loadshedding the next?? How is this possible?

@runawayrene Extra lanes for potholes and no maintence🤔 Hopefully I am wrong and this works and is successful About time we looked after pedestrians & cyclists (hopefully the cyclists will use the designated lanes) Just waiting for the 'tender bribery' games to commence

Big changes coming for roads in South Africa – including 2m sidewalks and bicycle lanes businesstech.co.za/news/governmen…

@PolonyStallony2 Yes they should, who knows what these protesters think and what their end game is Why should innocent motorists be placed in potential life threatening positions

@AdvoBarryRoux And I thought we were the only country with blithering idiots😳

DR Congo’s Minister of Education, Tony Mwaba Kazadi has impregnated his Deputy Minister, Aminata Namasia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming It was an accident at work.

@IndividualRSA Because he is ... sorry was ... a bloody idiot No loss to the intellectual society. Just 1 less saboteur in the market to ruin our country

@steynclan 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 that was exactly my first thought when I heard all this🤣🤣🤣 at least if there was or are any functional arms hey aren't in this country where they will be stolen and used on the tax paying citizens

People actually believing we have A) weapons B) weapons in workable condition To give to Russia... Is alles oraait byrie hys? Anything we had went the way of the railway tracks long ago.