He says: “So Hiddingh leaves to flee the Batavian Republic. But soon the Batavian Republic becomes the boss there again and he starts working as a judge under the Batavian regime. When the Cape of Good Hope passes into English hands, He is a judge in the Court of Justice of Cape Town, in the service of the English Crown, and is facing a number of cases that are among the most controversial and major cases that have defined part of South Africa’s history. for example, where he passes harsh sentences for those slaves.”
Terrible, says Buma. “Slaves were property and they were mistreated. But at a certain point some farmers in the outlying area, who mistreat someone, were sentenced to death. That’s what he does. The interesting thing about that man – born here in Hoogeveen – is that he wanted a very special reason; actually plays a pivotal role in his court, together with his judges, in that South African history.”
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