🌍Love Africa? Subscribe to Tekweni for captivating stories, vibrant history, and stunning wildlife! 👉 Subscribe Now and never miss an update! www.youtube.com/@Tekweni?sub_confirmation=1
You won't get that. It's too nuanced for indigenous brains to process. Your people need "black man victim/white man oppressor" narrative to keep things simple.
thats a good point - for example, maybe - if Paul Kruger made peace with the British, there never would've been anglo-boer war; which led to ultra-nationalism; which led to prolonged apartheid
@@lm_b5080 There would probably have been other issues. Think of all the colonies which the British have ruled and are still under their rule: Australia's and Nieu-Zealand's native populations are today a minority group; Other past African colonies are living in poverty. The Voortrekkers, who moved into the interior of South Africa, did so, because Britain wanted to create an empire in the Cape, which would inevitably lead to the eradication of the Dutch culture that was established there at the time. Had they not opposed the British, all of South Africa would have been amalgamated under British rulership. Remember - segregation was not an exclusive Afrikaner ideology - it was practiced throughout the ages and, at the time, all over the newly formed colonies. America, too, had this. The difference being that the minority cultures had been eradicated in the process. As evil as Apartheid was, it might have just preserved the indigenous cultures of the country. In the New World Order which is on our doorstep (and ironically crafted by Smuts to a large extent, as documented here), there will be no room for individualism and tribalism. Some think of this as the only way to forge peace amongst the nations. I think not. I think our identity as nations, groups and tribes, are to be celebrated. We just need to find a way to not "other" each other, and stop with out superiority complexes.
@@lm_b5080wasn’t that fight before apartheid was official? And wasn’t he fighting to protect the country and the Gold? From the British empire ? I don’t have answers, genuinely asking.
I am a Cameroonian who's lived in SA for a few years now and kept seeing streets named after Smuts but had no idea who he was. Glad that this documentary did a good job of telling us who he was. He seemed like a man who was very conflicted over his own views on race and his holism philosophy didn't seem to hold in Africa unfortunately for how flawed it was. Smart guy regardless of his views on race. And great job to the team that produced this.
Thankyou for this truly very well done documentry. We were taught about this great man. My father served as a springboks soldier in the second world war. My dad said he was tough, fair and cared about the soldiers. Therfore South African soldiers had to be well trained. He had their respect. We need people like him today
OMG! I always wanted this part of South African history. I never thought I would ever be in a room with someone who can put politics aside but have a view of who the founders of South Africa were in person. I'm really interested sir, suggest any reading material, video, or provide me with anything you think it has an accurate enough information for me to learn about Jan Smuts, and the founding of South Africa.
Wow this is a beautiful documentary! We need to recognise our genius beyond their flaws! I'm a black South African and am really trying to appreciate the context of those who caused my people so much pain...this documentary gave me a more balanced view of General Smuts...Thank you
So, 'your people' are not prepared to take responsibility for their current plight. If you stamp your forehead with 'I am a victim' then you will not only ensure 'so much pain', you'll redouble it.
Very interesting! I was told by my mother that when Smuts lost the 1948 election, my grandfather cried because he was worried about the future direction of the country. Sadly the both died in 1950.
I am from the Philippines, and I deeply admired the intellectual depth and sterling brilliance of Marshall Jan Christian Smuts, having read his life story and his contributions to the creation of the League of Nations, the British Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. Truly, he has made a lasting impact to the world for his contributions to world peace and international security. Certainly, Prime Minister Churchill's great respect for the man only affirms the exceptional mentality and character of Marshall Smuts. It is ironic that the man- widely applauded and recognized as an international icon, a truly great visionary, a futuristic leader and whose name is revered in the halls of international peace conferences and the academe has not put into practical application his vision and philosophy for his native South Africa which if he did, he could have done a lot for racial equality and the ending of apartheid in that part of the globe.
I understand the intend of what you are trying to communicate. I would just like to correct a mistake which is so ingrained in the eyes of the international community about South Africa and the history of Apartheid. The time line of South Africa has been so skewed that it borders on the absurd.(Obviously to vilify the Afrikaner as much as possible) In Smut's day South Africa did not have Apartheid. This ideology was only introduced after the Rep. of South Africa was established in 1961. The program was developed prior under the Union of South Africa, the policies of Apartheid were already in place and introduced in 1958 by the British colonial powers, the Nationalist only came to power in 1961. The Land act of 1913, was a British Law and Afrikaners were at that time totally disenfranchised from having any say in the governance as they were still having to recover from the intense British invasion of their countries.
@@felixmora665 I am not quite certain about what you mean. I may have a perspective of what you are referring to and if it is correct I would answer by saying that South Africa today, post apartheid have more racial laws than during Apartheid. Racial laws are completely and utterly infused and is completely institutionalized in South Africa. It is more racially divided by statute than ever before which is leading to a much greater divide between the rich and the poor. It is however creating much more poverty than economic empowerment. It is also scaling back and dissuading foreign investment into South Africa as companies have realized that South Africa's racial policies are a top down problem created by its government. Government-meaning all parties in parliament. Racially based laws are being passed on a daily(regular) bases in Parliament and it is sold as affirmative actions or black empowerment which seems to be the accepted norm and permissible by intellectuals, academia, enforced by the judiciary, but at the end of the day, these are racially based laws and that is fueling racism. Look no further than South Africa today to understand exactly what the meaning of institutionalized and endemic racism is all about. South Africa is lesson No.1 and the status quo has been installed by South Africa's public enemy No'1 The ANC, (Mandela's Party) and it's Tri-partheid Alliance which include the communist party.
@@felixmora665 Yep. I thought I was having difficulty understanding, but now I do. I just thought that the subject needed further comment and you gave me the opportunity. I am sure you understand.
Thank you for this excellent balanced video rare to find one that is not biased and blatantly propagandist but factual and worthy tribute to this great South African statesman ! A credit to those who compiled it and I am sure Jan Smuts himself would have been honoured to know as the record of his life.Modern politicians can learn so much from this Great Soul most definitely!
Scientific research, logical analysis, unbiased approach, excellent collection and creation of visuals, and appropriate commentary and music make this a wonderful documentary. Congratulations.
Jan Smuts blessed with a brilliant intellect and leadership was a modest and moral man admired by the world Kings and leaders of his time, he lived a simple life, yet impacted so powerfully on world history. It's a pity the united nations don't follow his example. My late father attended Jan Smuts 80th birthday celebration on 24 May 1950 and was given a souvenir box containing 2 slices of the birthday cake which I have to this day well preserved in probably much brandy?
He was a hero. That's controversial in RSA but Heroes have their mistakes. I believe he did good for SA. Wish we could learn from, absorb from him all that is good and apply it in our country.
@@luyolo679 He set up and perpetuated an appalling disgusting racist system against 80% of the population. He knew what he was doing, he knew it was reprehensible and did it anyway
Very interesting documentary. My Grand father, Louis Esselen was Secretary to Gen Smuts. All the Esselen papers are with the Unisa Library. Some interesting reading. I read them all while still a young kid.
My grandfather was his nephew. I never met him but he and his name had a huge effect on my family. My father retired as a colonel and he was refused promotion on the grounds that the National Party didn't want another Smuts to reach a high rank.
The Nationalists were not children - Smuts was a traitor and rewarded by becoming prime minister. Hence his loyalties lay with the oppressing disgusting English and there British Empire BS. If any English want to tell me that had a difficult time under nationalist rule he is lying. Amazes me, seeing what happened to the British colonies in Africa, that you still want to rise your mouth on the Afrikaners. Pathetic and never the BE's fault hey. Not even your betrayal of Zimbabwe.
An excellent documentary, thank you. It's easy for people nowadays to look back and criticise without understanding the context of the times in which he lived. Of course he made mistakes, we all do, and I can't think of anyone who ever got everything right 100% of the time. My sense from watching this is that he knew and understood the forces at work in the world and was powerless to do anything about them. Imagine a brilliant captain on the bridge of the ship, fully understanding the might of the ocean and the power of the weather, and only able to steer the ship to the best of his abilty. Great people like Smuts are sadly lacking in our world today.
That's a load of shite buddy They had Everything based on being white, and put in place a horrible racist disgusting system against the majority of the people TO HOLD ONTO POWER . It was done to us in Ireland also . All colonists do it. Yours was just the worst.
Well said, he and Hofmeyr were dead against racial discrimination, but as you point out, he knew the currents and forces of his people at that time. Wrt the race issue, he actually said it was something that would have to be solved by a later generation. 40 years later 68% of Whites voted for change. Your ship captain analogy is very apt. Without context, "flawed", in context, a great, great man who being a genius faced reality.
Thanks for posting this. An expat living in SA, and a history buff, I did a quick review of who Jan Smuts was, and it was just enough to interest me in more. I spoke about him to a couple SA people, and they had no idea who he was. Man of his time, and impossible to defend his philosophical beliefs, even if he was otherwise a great man.
When the National Party came to power in 1948, they wanted South Africa to forget about Smuts, the man who sided with the Brits, he had too much international attention for their liking.
@@ZebraAfrica : You are right - the Nats’ hatred for Smuts was also due to them wanting ZA to side with Nazi Germany and not with Britain. Many are still ‘fighting’ the Boer War.
@@1942decemberthey taught us about him when I was in primary school in the 80’s in South Africa. Our airport was named after him until ‘94. I knew he was important…but not a lot of the details. Thank you for the doc. 🙏🏻
Dankie Rob Happe. It was a shock when I had discovered that the ANC and Black Resistance was given help by the Dutch to kill the Whites/ Afrikaners and our Government. And how the Dutch distance then form Jan van Riebeeck and the destroying of old books in the Zuid-Afrika-Huis in "Holland". As if the Dutch wish to state there is NO connection between the Afrikaners and them. I refuse to read the Dutch prescribe book (Het Gevaar) in school. And to day there is no Dutch prescribe books in school. Now with the move of more Africans to Europe (Holland) I see that your Right Wing getting stronger...
@@davidvanniekerk3813 Best thing I have done is that the Netherlands is no longer my home. The last straw this pandemic, I am not even allowed in for a holiday, economical refugees don't have that problem.
Beautifully done. A great South African. May the best of him live on forever and never be forgotten the good that he did. Thank you for a balanced history lesson. Even having lived through most of this at 94 I learned so much I didn’t know.Thank you.
After reading the books of Wilbur Smith I became interested in South African history and started reading and watching videos like this.I think life in South Africa is a continuous adventure.Just like the geograhy of South Africa,so tough and hard and soooo vast ,the people of South Africa are tough and hard ,only that way they can survive.Sadly ,it seems violence and crime is increasing ,so , ordinary people cannot live with peace and work for a prosperous life.
My grandfather came out with tbe British army in 1912 & served under Smuts in the German Soutj West Africa campaign during the war. He helped Smuts in both his political campaigns & I still have a letter my grandfather received from Smuts, thanking him for his aid.
My great great grandfather was a personal friend of both Smuts and Herzog. My great grandfather grew up with the latter's kids, calling him "Oom Lokomotief." Being German citizens, my family was to be put in a camp during the world wars, but on both occasions, Smuts got them the privilege of house arrest rather than relocation with a personal letter to the local authorities. A great man.
We have two photos I cherish. One is of Jan Smuts presenting my father with his wings. The second is Jan Smuts presenting my father, Lt John Hogan SAAF, with his Distinguished Flying Cross.
@@aranos56vmsmuts and Louis Botha ended up with both English colonies as well as the boer Republics a United south africa they lost the war but won the negotiations it ended up better for us this way
I didn't know much about him except for the fact that he was my Maternal Grandmother's cousin, so yes I was happy to see this documentary about him & his life ...
Really enjoyed this. I remember my matric history thesis which was titled ' Jan Smuts: International Statesman or South African Politician.' I got an A.
Can't remember everything but the main lie is that the world treats South Africa as if it always was one country and blacks were prevented from going where they had a right to go. Before 1902 "South Africa" consisted of 2 independent Afrikaner republics and 7 independent African kingdoms.
@@skalkananzi01 South African History did not start when the 2 Republics came to an end in 1902. There were in fact a total of 18 Boer Republics: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_Republics#Boer_republics which eventually became the Oranje Vrijstaat: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Free_State#/media/File:Flag_of_the_Orange_Free_State.svg and the Zuid Afrikaanche Republiek: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Republic#/media/File:Flag_of_Transvaal.svg Interestingly the right wing of today easily use only this flag to commemorate "Die Boere". They forget the Voortrekkers had their own flag: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Trek#/media/File:Voortrekker_flag.svg PLUS there were 4 Griqua states: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_Republics#Griqua_states PLUS there were 5 or 6 African Kingdoms in Southern Africa which consisted of course of many tribes: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_kingdoms_in_pre-colonial_Africa#Southern_Africa Pre-colonial Africa looked different: za.pinterest.com/pin/315040936421432597/ Nobody treats SA as if they always were 1 country. Just as the USA and their 50 states were not always 1 country. And yes between 1948 and 1994 during Apartheid the blacks WERE prevented from their right to where they wanted to go. Jan Smuts lost the 1948 elections by 'n mere 49%-51% of the white votes: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_South_African_general_election PW Botha started the end of Apartheid with his Tricameral Parliament after the 1983 referendum that won a 66% majority vote under white voters, which changed the constitution: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_South_African_constitutional_reform_referendum FW de Klerk took it further with his 68% majority win in the 1992 referendum under white voters to start a process of reforms: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_South_African_apartheid_referendum Jan Smuts lost by 'n hair in 1948 for the same reason that Donald Trump won in 2016. Rural votes in 1948 vs Electoral districts in 2016. Jan Smuts won the popular votes in 1948 but lost the election. Donald Trump lost the popular votes in 2016 but won the election. This proves that losing the popular vote but winning the election is not real democracy. It proved to be flawed in 1948 in SA and it proves to be flawed in 2016 in the USA. Real democracy is found by winning the popular vote otherwise it will only be a victory built on sand. But forget that for a second. This video is not a history of SA. It is all about the great visionary of a man called Jan Smuts. He had SA on the correct path but lost to "Afrikaner nasionalisme" in 1948. Right wing politics are famous for their selfishness and shortsightedness, and that had to play itself out in SA as it is playing itself out in the rest of the world. Right wing selfishness is illustrated by the 18 Boer Republics after the Groot Trek. Too many bosses (trek leiers) with their own ideas and too much power (self love) gave rise to a kind of division between right wing groups that still exist to this day. It is not Jan Smuts or FW de Klerk that sold SA out. It is the division between selfish people that sold themselves out. South Africans were never a conquering nation. But the new South Africa have the chance to be an example to the rest of the world on how divided tribes and skin colours can stand together to work towards a common goal. Freedom and prosperity for all. Both don't come cheap. If you listen carefully at 22:30 in the video one can understand how correct Jan Smuts was in saying: "Freedom is the most ineradicable craving of human nature. Without it peace, contentment and happiness even manhood itself are not possible. Happiness is freedom and freedom is courage. That is the fundamental equation of all politics and of all human government. And any system which ignores it, is built on sand.". The National Party's dream of an Apartheid SA WAS built on sand that is why it could not last.
@@skalkananzi01 Tekweni Media did the filming. I notice they used the banner of the National Film and Video Foundation which is an agency of the Dept of Arts and Culture. So there is no conspiracy theory there.
@The river of no return eerstens moenie so bang poes wees en n skuilnaam gebruik nie, dalk is jy n anc lid vir al wat ek weet. 2dens, jy het klomp kaka raakgekliek en dink ek moet dit kyk en glo. Gebruik regte bronne met verwysings, onder jou naam, nie klomp internet gemors nie. Kom by man, jou hele poging om n punt te maak is pateties.
Balanced? Boers did not get to give their side of the story, as usual. I am sure my grand father would have a lot to say why he did not support Jan Smuts
@@hanoitripper1809 Again as has been said elsewhere, there was much hate and bitterness towards the Brits as a result of the barbaric atrocities committed by British (England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) soldiers during the war. For Smuts to enter the fold of Britain was a slap in the face of the women and children who died in the concentration camps!
@@Westmen0 There are numerous biographies of Jan Smuts. The one I read was "Smuts the Patriot" by Piet Meiring (1975) theologian, author and at one stage also chairman of the SABC Board'.
For all his faults he was a great man and did do many great things. We should always remember that everyone make mistakes and no one is perfect. He did create South Africa as a country and without him this would probably not have happened. History is unfortunately a reality that we can only learn from.
His liberal stand and subsequent alienation to the so called " die uitverkoren van die volk" or Chosen people indeed a farcry To the atrocities by volk boer and far ride patriachs like JBM Hertzog and his predecessor Louis Botha who even eventually awarded 97 percent of the land to minorities
Facts are facts, he sold out the Boers, the British blew smoke up his area where the sun didn't shine, they, the British were only interested in our gold and diamonds, which by the way they still own today in 2023, I am a Boer and despise what this union of Smuts and Britain has wrought
It is an interesting film. That brought up many facts that i did not know about SA. Even while i was living and working there for many years. Thank you for downloading!
Hi Folks - In our present situation in South Africa and as a senior citizen who four uncles who fought for the British, two in the Royal Navy and two in the South African Army, a Grand Father in WW 1, a father who served in essential services in WW 2 , I served in the South African Citizen Force as did two of my sons, I do wonder what is next.
I'm my late 20s through all that history I'm of the 1st generation in my family to be a civy we too thought through it all and wonder what's next a lasting peace seems kinda strange with a history of nothing but conflict
And I wonder who South Africa will stand with in a future world war. As far as I understand it, most of our parliamentarians/politicians/those in government are funded by people who are pro/are the Western allies. And yet it seems we are allied to their opposition via our membership in BRICS. The Israeli/Gaza conflict has been very polarizing.
I remember my father describing how happy he had been when Smuts lost the election in 1948, something he was not surprised about but apparently it was a shock to many. He said Smuts had gotten too close to the British and many Afrikaaners resented this. British interference in South Africa over prior decades was not appreciated by the Afrikaaner nationalists and memories of the Boer War were still fresh in many minds even though it had been nearly 50 years since.
Only 30 years later the Afrikaaners want the blacks to forget about apartheid completely and embrace them but they could not get over a 50 year old war. The double standards.
Veni, vidi, vici! Rome did it, the Brits did it everywhere and now the Americans do it all over again! And they are like gods because the murder millions and their victims chose to fight each other, so they prosper and become "destroyer of worlds". I can attest that they made an alliance with my king back than, and that alliance is still up...I'm gonna guess but it's very possible Smuts new he couldn't just say no to them! Eventually he did and they took him out! The Hapsburgs should had been dealt with early in the 14th century, Venice filled them up with lots of cash (by the way the same ones that founded the nation corporation called Netherlands) today only Russia and China can confront them! It's gonna be an interesting century!
If you look at history it was not only the ABO, it was also WW1 with the Rebellion where many that fought in the ABO were jailed because the objected against joining the war. This was followed by the great depression of the 30 s an then the outbreak of WW2 at the end of the 30s where there were many that thought that South Africa had enough problems of its own to join a war. So no, at least three major incidents after the ABO.
without a doubt, Jan Smuts a South African son of the soil was an inspiration during world war 2 and a friend to King George V1, Winston Churchill, and Dwight D Eisenhower, In May 1945 Jan Smuts represented South Africa at the drafting of the United Nations charter,. What a great disappointment the current UN is today. They have betrayed their souls for political power.
He was never with the National Party. Smuts' party was the South African Party (later morphing into the United Party), a party of reconciliation between Boer and Brit and central to his belief that divisive politics was destructive. The Nats were diametrically opposed to this, having Afrikaner domination at the core of their beliefs.
I read somewhere that Jan Smuts was concerned that the native problem was not solved in his lifetime. Therefore it appears that his holistic idea needed to be developed with time.
General Smuts was a great Philosopher, Statesman ,Leader and a man of true integrity Very proud of him.Well respected .🙏💪🙏💝.y Father had his same name and quite frankly, the same temperament A Philosopher and wize person My Dad was his 2nd Cousin💝
The state he created was a stinking cesspool of racism and violence against 80% of the population. Philosopher?? He was intelligent enough to know his countrymen were intent on holding onto power at all costs , no matter how low and brutal they had to go.
Vryheid vir die Boer! South Africa never should have become a union. The union of South Africa is unsustainable and morally wrong. It s to bad that this documentary does not give more incite to the Boer rebellion of 1914. It was in 1914 that Jan Smuts lost the support of his people, the Afrikaners. And to understand Afrikaner politics, you have to understand the rebellion of 1914.
@@corneljansevanrensburg5552 Fourie moes bedank het uit die SA Weermag voor hy gerebelleer het. Hy het nie, en het in sy weermaguniform sy gedeeltes van die rebelle gelei. Dit was hoogverraad.
With Mandela, surely the greatest son of South African soil. His towering intellect and leadership entrenched western values world wide in the twentieth century. His obvious blind spot towards the black South African is deeply lamentable, but seen in contrast with the fascist leaders of the National Party like Malan and eventually Verwoerd, his was the leadership that this country needed more.
For me ,a descendant of a Bittereinder BOER who never signed the Oath,,went into exile to German East Africa,,Tanzania,,, He was a TRAITOR, which caused a Rebelion😢😢
Jan Smuts International Airport is now called O.R. Tambo International Airport, that should be enough to tell you what Free South Africa thinks of the man.
They the anc can call it whatever they like , it will always be Jan Smut’s airport to me , as long as I have a hole up my ass , and all the rest of the renamed places that the terrorists have given names to , will always be the old original names in my mind , I still proudly fly the old SA Flag at my home
OR Tambo did more for the freedom of the blacks than Smuts. Fair is fair, let the boeres build monuments to him. But now free SA is a black man's country.
Whatever you think of Smuts, he was a South African that Winston Churchill said should replace him if anything happend to Churchill as Prime Minister of the UK.
Then Smuts must also have been a freemason, because Churchill is a well known freemason who would only have bestowed such privilege to another freemason
Mm Smuts even had an input in the 1920s to the then (and some say still unresolved) Irish question. He had talks with DeValera and his extra words put into George Vs speech (at the NI Parliament opening) helped bring about the Truce between the Irish Nationalists, fighting the UK in the Irish War of Independence (1919- 1921) and the British Army. That Truce led to the Anglo Irish Treaty 1921, giving Saorstat Eireann/Irish Free State , independence. But that left NI still in the UK (and therein, its own internal blatent discrimination later led to 30 years of civil unrest -the Troubles).
Our greatest statesman! Extremely intelligent a true Afrikaner, such a travesty that his own people who he fought for in the Boer War rejected him in the end. No statesman that came after him anywhere on the world stage came even close to his brilliance and statesmanship, he was head and shoulders above them.
Hogwash, Smuts never fought against the British. They were his buddies. He was a traitor who forgot Kitcheners death camps where our people, mostly women and children died in their thousands. My uncles travelled to Germany via Namibia and became Luftwaffe BF 109 fighter pilots. Both died on the Eastern front in Russia...
My grandfather says that when Smuts Died the whole Nation cried it did not matter who you are from the high lands of zululand to the low lands of pondoland all south Africans payed their respact a true Patriot had died. The only white man to have ever earn a respect from allthe tribes of south africa a true son of the soil.
To all who admire J. Smuts, there is a man called Allan Savory, Rhodesian born, who is building upon Smuts work and is using it to solve our worlds biggest problem.
As a young white English speaking male, I started my National Service in 1970. Almost universally, my fellow Afrikaner servicemen loathed Smuts. They portrayed him as an Imperialist who sided with the very nation that had ruthlessly crushed their attempts to be free and independent. They all had stories handed down to them of the atrocities the English had perpetrated in their concentration camps. I initially believed that they were simply lying, but on investigation, found it to be true and worse than i had ever imagined. A great man? Maybe, but seriously flawed as your title states. To say the whole nation mourned, well, I know that is not correct.
Thank you for this documentary on the greatest South African to ever have lived (I know others will have different opinions so please,no hateful comments!!)
A brilliant man no doubt. Pity he used his talent setting up a racist apartheid violent state. Passing an act taking 95% land for white people is disgusting .
I've read autobiographies about Jan Smuts, been to his house museum at Irene, by Pretoria, and so on. Before the Anglo-Boer War he was pro-British, during the Anglo-Boer War he was anti-British, and after the Anglo-Boer War was pro-British. During the Anglo-Boer War, Jan Smuts wrote the book 'A century of wrong'. It is said that it's by FW Reitz, but is actually by Jan Smuts. It's about the wrong ways of the British towards the Boers. It would be held against Jan Smuts for the rest of his life. There were two sides to his personality. One was the spiritual side. This he had a lot at his house. It has a strong spiritual vibration. He also had that somewhat when abroad. He was for instance against the Treaty of Versailles. He was also one of the founders of the League of Nations & United Nations. He was also good allies with Winston Churchill. There were times, when Churchill was away, that he would be ruling Britain. He was also, as mentioned, in favour of the British Empire. One mustn't judge history by today's standards. There is then the other side of his personality, the physical side. which includes racist attitudes when ruling South Africa. So, he was like a different person in South Africa, and abroad. Jan Smuts was thus mostly disliked in South Africa, and mostly liked overseas.
Aquarius1011, this is by far the most sensible and objective synopsis I’ve read after all the comments I’ve seen about Gen Jan Smuts. You’ve helped fill in the gaps and I understand the mixed reactions, “remarkable” to some “sell out” to others. His contribution to the assembling of this country, whether good or bad, still remains worthy to be acknowledged
This was excellent. Focusing on his place in history as not just a South African leader, but as a key founding father of the world's government is a subject of immense importance in today's global world. From some of the more recent historical figures of history like William Penn, Napoleon, Churchill and others; Jan Smut's clearly saw his place in this melding process. "Spare the conquered, battle down the proud" was a maxim he was quite aware of. He knew his country was conquered. He couldn't beat em, so he joined em; like we all have had to do at some point in our people's past. Those that wish to look upon him as a traitor or racist do so only from the perspective of the moment in time and within a vacuum of ignorance towards the wholesale unifying journey of man. The federation of the world's people was a foregone conclusion since the start. It has all been just a matter of time when all the little villages, bigger city states and then continental nations could be brought together in unity whether under the pen or sword. Seeking harmony thereafter becomes an eternal work in progress of which each and every one of us is responsible for.
![F.HERO Ft. JSPKK x ลำไย ไหทองคำ x M-PEE - ไม่สนิทบิดหมด (Thai Riders Anthem) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kPJZ0UihBfk/mqdefault.jpg)
🌍Love Africa? Subscribe to Tekweni for captivating stories, vibrant history, and stunning wildlife! 👉 Subscribe Now and never miss an update! www.youtube.com/@Tekweni?sub_confirmation=1
We need more pre 94” documentaries so everything happening now is put in perspective.
You won't get that. It's too nuanced for indigenous brains to process. Your people need "black man victim/white man oppressor" narrative to keep things simple.
So stupidity is due to past issues?
thats a good point - for example, maybe - if Paul Kruger made peace with the British, there never would've been anglo-boer war; which led to ultra-nationalism; which led to prolonged apartheid
@@lm_b5080 There would probably have been other issues. Think of all the colonies which the British have ruled and are still under their rule: Australia's and Nieu-Zealand's native populations are today a minority group; Other past African colonies are living in poverty.
The Voortrekkers, who moved into the interior of South Africa, did so, because Britain wanted to create an empire in the Cape, which would inevitably lead to the eradication of the Dutch culture that was established there at the time. Had they not opposed the British, all of South Africa would have been amalgamated under British rulership.
Remember - segregation was not an exclusive Afrikaner ideology - it was practiced throughout the ages and, at the time, all over the newly formed colonies. America, too, had this. The difference being that the minority cultures had been eradicated in the process.
As evil as Apartheid was, it might have just preserved the indigenous cultures of the country.
In the New World Order which is on our doorstep (and ironically crafted by Smuts to a large extent, as documented here), there will be no room for individualism and tribalism. Some think of this as the only way to forge peace amongst the nations. I think not. I think our identity as nations, groups and tribes, are to be celebrated. We just need to find a way to not "other" each other, and stop with out superiority complexes.
@@lm_b5080wasn’t that fight before apartheid was official? And wasn’t he fighting to protect the country and the Gold? From the British empire ?
I don’t have answers, genuinely asking.
I am a Cameroonian who's lived in SA for a few years now and kept seeing streets named after Smuts but had no idea who he was. Glad that this documentary did a good job of telling us who he was. He seemed like a man who was very conflicted over his own views on race and his holism philosophy didn't seem to hold in Africa unfortunately for how flawed it was. Smart guy regardless of his views on race. And great job to the team that produced this.
He warned the Nats that Apartheid would be a big mistake A great man
Thank you.
Read up about him sir.even on youtube they have an excellent article about him
He was a great man who in the end started questioning apartheid
A hundred years before his time.
@@madeleinedonaldson4422 Ag asseblief...
Thankyou for this truly very well done documentry. We were taught about this great man. My father served as a springboks soldier in the second world war. My dad said he was tough, fair and cared about the soldiers. Therfore South African soldiers had to be well trained. He had their respect. We need people like him today
My grandfather served as his bodyguard for some years. He spoke very highly of the General.
Thank you for making this documentary.
OMG! I always wanted this part of South African history. I never thought I would ever be in a room with someone who can put politics aside but have a view of who the founders of South Africa were in person. I'm really interested sir, suggest any reading material, video, or provide me with anything you think it has an accurate enough information for me to learn about Jan Smuts, and the founding of South Africa.
My mother's mother was Isie Smuts. He was my grandfather
grandfather or great grandfather
@@imaniraks77 grandfather - Johan Momberg. Born 1912
The type of history we should be learning. Detailed, informed and as objective as possible. Good stuff
exactly
Wow this is a beautiful documentary! We need to recognise our genius beyond their flaws! I'm a black South African and am really trying to appreciate the context of those who caused my people so much pain...this documentary gave me a more balanced view of General Smuts...Thank you
@Conscious One youre a parasite
@Conscious One general Smuts was a liberal during the height of Afrikaner conservatism 🤦🏻♂️
So, 'your people' are not prepared to take responsibility for their current plight. If you stamp your forehead with 'I am a victim' then you will not only ensure 'so much pain', you'll redouble it.
No u are Flawed u are not Black
@@sthembisojwara4897 yea that's true☠️ I was only born in SA
Very interesting! I was told by my mother that when Smuts lost the 1948 election, my grandfather cried because he was worried about the future direction of the country. Sadly the both died in 1950.
'48 was a great tragedy indeed. Your grandfather's insight was prescient.
That is the history that we are not taught as black people, we hate white people for all the sins of 1948
I'm still crying.
Smuts was right all along (but we're not supposed to say that)😮
Your mother was a wise woman.
I am from the Philippines, and I deeply admired the intellectual depth and sterling brilliance of Marshall Jan Christian Smuts, having read his life story and his contributions to the creation of the League of Nations, the British Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. Truly, he has made a lasting impact to the world for his contributions to world peace and international security. Certainly, Prime Minister Churchill's great respect for the man only affirms the exceptional mentality and character of Marshall Smuts. It is ironic that the man- widely applauded and recognized as an international icon, a truly great visionary, a futuristic leader and whose name is revered in the halls of international peace conferences and the academe has not put into practical application his vision and philosophy for his native South Africa which if he did, he could have done a lot for racial equality and the ending of apartheid in that part of the globe.
I understand the intend of what you are trying to communicate. I would just like to correct a mistake which is so ingrained in the eyes of the international community about South Africa and the history of Apartheid. The time line of South Africa has been so skewed that it borders on the absurd.(Obviously to vilify the Afrikaner as much as possible) In Smut's day South Africa did not have Apartheid. This ideology was only introduced after the Rep. of South Africa was established in 1961.
The program was developed prior under the Union of South Africa, the policies of Apartheid were already in place and introduced in 1958 by the British colonial powers, the Nationalist only came to power in 1961.
The Land act of 1913, was a British Law and Afrikaners were at that time totally disenfranchised from having any say in the governance as they were still having to recover from the intense British invasion of their countries.
We had to wait for the CPSA and mandela to do the job, señor beautiful hair
@@felixmora665 I am not quite certain about what you mean. I may have a perspective of what you are referring to and if it is correct I would answer by saying that South Africa today, post apartheid have more racial laws than during Apartheid. Racial laws are completely and utterly infused and is completely institutionalized in South Africa. It is more racially divided by statute than ever before which is leading to a much greater divide between the rich and the poor. It is however creating much more poverty than economic empowerment. It is also scaling back and dissuading foreign investment into South Africa as companies have realized that South Africa's racial policies are a top down problem created by its government. Government-meaning all parties in parliament. Racially based laws are being passed on a daily(regular) bases in Parliament and it is sold as affirmative actions or black empowerment which seems to be the accepted norm and permissible by intellectuals, academia, enforced by the judiciary, but at the end of the day, these are racially based laws and that is fueling racism. Look no further than South Africa today to understand exactly what the meaning of institutionalized and endemic racism is all about. South Africa is lesson No.1 and the status quo has been installed by South Africa's public enemy No'1 The ANC, (Mandela's Party) and it's Tri-partheid Alliance which include the communist party.
@@glenhuysamer you misundestood me completely
@@felixmora665 Yep. I thought I was having difficulty understanding, but now I do. I just thought that the subject needed further comment and you gave me the opportunity. I am sure you understand.
Thank you for this excellent balanced video rare to find one that is not biased and blatantly propagandist but factual and worthy tribute to this great South African statesman ! A credit to those who compiled it and I am sure Jan Smuts himself would have been honoured to know as the record of his life.Modern politicians can learn so much from this Great Soul most definitely!
How right he has been proved.
@Gavin Erasmus ?
Good documentary. The people of South Africa is hungry for their history. More stuff like this please😊
Thank you.
I am fascinated with the history of South Africa and this presentation confirms the rich and diverse history of this nation.
Scientific research, logical analysis, unbiased approach, excellent collection and creation of visuals, and appropriate commentary and music make this a wonderful documentary. Congratulations.
Jan Smuts blessed with a brilliant intellect and leadership was a modest and moral man admired by the world Kings and leaders of his time, he lived a simple life, yet impacted so powerfully on world history. It's a pity the united nations don't follow his example. My late father attended Jan Smuts 80th birthday celebration on 24 May 1950 and was given a souvenir box containing 2 slices of the birthday cake which I have to this day well preserved in probably much brandy?
He was a hero. That's controversial in RSA but Heroes have their mistakes. I believe he did good for SA. Wish we could learn from, absorb from him all that is good and apply it in our country.
@@luyolo679 He set up and perpetuated an appalling disgusting racist system against 80% of the population. He knew what he was doing, he knew it was reprehensible and did it anyway
As a young black South African I hold him in high regard. He is an one of the architects of my country.
Nxa wanya wena
@@CharlieMungerMrHoover Uqamba nokuqamba amanga, munyama kuphi lo?
@@CharlieMungerMrHoover Where would South Africa be without the legacy of Jan Smuts?
@Larry Hoover ur mother
@@CharlieMungerMrHooverur lack of reason to explain y, nd hv points iz the reason y ul never solve ur prblms
Jan Smuts is known and well respected in France too. I remember learning about him in school.
Even the French give him more attention than South Africans, LOL.
Most Afrikaners do not honour him. He is seen as a traitor. And rightly so.
Very interesting documentary. My Grand father, Louis Esselen was Secretary to Gen Smuts. All the Esselen papers are with the Unisa Library. Some interesting reading. I read them all while still a young kid.
Great documentary of a Greater man. RIP from Canada, Jan Smuts.
The music at the end is Bruckner's 7th Symphony 😍😍 so fitting for an iconic South African
Thank you for that info.
My grandfather was his nephew. I never met him but he and his name had a huge effect on my family. My father retired as a colonel and he was refused promotion on the grounds that the National Party didn't want another Smuts to reach a high rank.
The Nationalists were, or could be, such children.
The Nationalists were not children - Smuts was a traitor and rewarded by becoming prime minister. Hence his loyalties lay with the oppressing disgusting English and there British Empire BS. If any English want to tell me that had a difficult time under nationalist rule he is lying. Amazes me, seeing what happened to the British colonies in Africa, that you still want to rise your mouth on the Afrikaners. Pathetic and never the BE's fault hey. Not even your betrayal of Zimbabwe.
Thank you. This was very interesting. My grandfather served under Smuts.
The comments also give me much food for thought & stuff to research.
My ancestors were proudly big Smuts supporters. Thank you for bringing this awareness of historical South African history.
@Gavin Erasmus ???
Your ancestors were racist colonisers
An excellent documentary, thank you. It's easy for people nowadays to look back and criticise without understanding the context of the times in which he lived. Of course he made mistakes, we all do, and I can't think of anyone who ever got everything right 100% of the time. My sense from watching this is that he knew and understood the forces at work in the world and was powerless to do anything about them. Imagine a brilliant captain on the bridge of the ship, fully understanding the might of the ocean and the power of the weather, and only able to steer the ship to the best of his abilty. Great people like Smuts are sadly lacking in our world today.
That's a load of shite buddy They had Everything based on being white, and put in place a horrible racist disgusting system against the majority of the people TO HOLD ONTO POWER . It was done to us in Ireland also . All colonists do it. Yours was just the worst.
Well said, he and Hofmeyr were dead against racial discrimination, but as you point out, he knew the currents and forces of his people at that time.
Wrt the race issue, he actually said it was something that would have to be solved by a later generation.
40 years later 68% of Whites voted for change.
Your ship captain analogy is very apt.
Without context, "flawed", in context, a great, great man who being a genius faced reality.
Thanks for posting this. An expat living in SA, and a history buff, I did a quick review of who Jan Smuts was, and it was just enough to interest me in more. I spoke about him to a couple SA people, and they had no idea who he was. Man of his time, and impossible to defend his philosophical beliefs, even if he was otherwise a great man.
When the National Party came to power in 1948, they wanted South Africa to forget about Smuts, the man who sided with the Brits, he had too much international attention for their liking.
@@ZebraAfrica : You are right - the Nats’ hatred for Smuts was also due to them wanting ZA to side with Nazi Germany and not with Britain. Many are still ‘fighting’ the Boer War.
@@1942decemberthey taught us about him when I was in primary school in the 80’s in South Africa. Our airport was named after him until ‘94. I knew he was important…but not a lot of the details. Thank you for the doc. 🙏🏻
@@TheFairyintheFishBowl : I assume you attended an English medium school. Afrikaner nationalists hated him.
One should not equate philosophical beliefs of a different era with those of the present time. There is constant shifting, for better and for worse.
We need more documentaries please!!!!
This great man is kept out of Dutch history as well. Being Dutch I can understand Afrikaans very well.
That is like saying an Australian man is kept out of british history
@Laney B I can't really judge on that but he had an impact on the international community later in life
Dankie Rob Happe. It was a shock when I had discovered that the ANC and Black Resistance was given help by the Dutch to kill the Whites/ Afrikaners and our Government. And how the Dutch distance then form Jan van Riebeeck and the destroying of old books in the Zuid-Afrika-Huis in "Holland". As if the Dutch wish to state there is NO connection between the Afrikaners and them. I refuse to read the Dutch prescribe book (Het Gevaar) in school. And to day there is no Dutch prescribe books in school. Now with the move of more Africans to Europe (Holland) I see that your Right Wing getting stronger...
@@davidvanniekerk3813 Best thing I have done is that the Netherlands is no longer my home. The last straw this pandemic, I am not even allowed in for a holiday, economical refugees don't have that problem.
@@hanoitripper1809you don’t understand how history works
🇿🇦 South Africa thanks you for this wonderful documentary about our hero.
What a man of stature!! We need another man/president like him!!
Beautifully done. A great South African. May the best of him live on forever and never be forgotten the good that he did. Thank you for a balanced history lesson. Even having lived through most of this at 94 I learned so much I didn’t know.Thank you.
After reading the books of Wilbur Smith I became interested in South African history and started reading and watching videos like this.I think life in South Africa is a continuous adventure.Just like the geograhy of South Africa,so tough and hard and soooo vast ,the people of South Africa are tough and hard ,only that way they can survive.Sadly ,it seems violence and crime is increasing ,so , ordinary people cannot live with peace and work for a prosperous life.
thank you !!Indeed we are tough to survive many hard times
My grandfather came out with tbe British army in 1912 & served under Smuts in the German Soutj West Africa campaign during the war. He helped Smuts in both his political campaigns & I still have a letter my grandfather received from Smuts, thanking him for his aid.
My great great grandfather was a personal friend of both Smuts and Herzog. My great grandfather grew up with the latter's kids, calling him "Oom Lokomotief." Being German citizens, my family was to be put in a camp during the world wars, but on both occasions, Smuts got them the privilege of house arrest rather than relocation with a personal letter to the local authorities. A great man.
My grangmother worked in his office for some time.
As a Black South African born in the then Transvaal (PWV) this Doccie makes you understand history better.
You should watch a few on how ANC is a criminal/terrorist organisation like Hamas.
We have two photos I cherish. One is of Jan Smuts presenting my father with his wings. The second is Jan Smuts presenting my father, Lt John Hogan SAAF, with his Distinguished Flying Cross.
Field Marshal Smuts was South Africa's gift to the world. Thank you for sharing this wonderful documentary! 🇿🇦🌍
He might be a gift to thec world, but no gift to the boers and bittereinders who were betrayed by he british and the liberal boers.
Broers, ons het besluit om tot die bittere einde te staan; laat ons soos manne erken dat daardie einde vir ons gekom het
@@aranos56vmsmuts and Louis Botha ended up with both English colonies as well as the boer Republics a United south africa they lost the war but won the negotiations it ended up better for us this way
If your peoples enemies praise you, you need to start reflecting
I agree these wonderful old documentaries give us history we never learned in school. It all helps to understand the world of today. Thank you!!
One mustn't judge history by today's standards.
they aren’t they are putting his views in context
Do they have any standards today?
Yes the standards of oppression and slavery and capture of the black people
An amazing video about one of the greatest South Africans of all times! Much informative...
Hy het ons verraai.
Very impressive documentary, in the class of a good TV production
This has very much resparked my interest. I've recently gotten a copy of the Boer War as a result. Thanks man
When I was 6 I met him in jan smuts airport. And he shook my hand and we had a chat . My mother was astounded. As she. Was a fan of his
Now, if only Smuts and Biko had known each other.
I didn't know much about him except for the fact that he was my Maternal Grandmother's cousin, so yes I was happy to see this documentary about him & his life ...
Amazing documentary! And the JHB war museum is the most educational institution I've ever visited.
My grandfather was born in the concentration camp in Mafeking.
Really enjoyed this. I remember my matric history thesis which was titled ' Jan Smuts: International Statesman or South African Politician.' I got an A.
Well done! A,s always evaded me.
Wow. Awesome history. Brilliant man of his times. Thank the Lord we have moved on in South Africa.
Thank you for an honest portrayal of history. It is very quite rare.
I always wanted to see a documentary about him. Well done !!!
The background info is really not that accurate....i would love to know who financed this.
@@skalkananzi01 Behoort jy nie uit te brei waarom dit dan hogwash is nie? Dan kan ons almal dalk iets leer.
Can't remember everything but the main lie is that the world treats South Africa as if it always was one country and blacks were prevented from going where they had a right to go. Before 1902 "South Africa" consisted of 2 independent Afrikaner republics and 7 independent African kingdoms.
@@skalkananzi01
South African History did not start when the 2 Republics came to an end in 1902.
There were in fact a total of 18 Boer Republics:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_Republics#Boer_republics
which eventually became the Oranje Vrijstaat:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Free_State#/media/File:Flag_of_the_Orange_Free_State.svg
and the Zuid Afrikaanche Republiek:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Republic#/media/File:Flag_of_Transvaal.svg
Interestingly the right wing of today easily use only this flag to commemorate "Die Boere". They forget the Voortrekkers had their own flag:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Trek#/media/File:Voortrekker_flag.svg
PLUS there were 4 Griqua states:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boer_Republics#Griqua_states
PLUS there were 5 or 6 African Kingdoms in Southern Africa which consisted of course of many tribes:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_kingdoms_in_pre-colonial_Africa#Southern_Africa
Pre-colonial Africa looked different:
za.pinterest.com/pin/315040936421432597/
Nobody treats SA as if they always were 1 country. Just as the USA and their 50 states were not always 1 country. And yes between 1948 and 1994 during Apartheid the blacks WERE prevented from their right to where they wanted to go.
Jan Smuts lost the 1948 elections by 'n mere 49%-51% of the white votes:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_South_African_general_election
PW Botha started the end of Apartheid with his Tricameral Parliament after the 1983 referendum that won a 66% majority vote under white voters, which changed the constitution:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_South_African_constitutional_reform_referendum
FW de Klerk took it further with his 68% majority win in the 1992 referendum under white voters to start a process of reforms:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_South_African_apartheid_referendum
Jan Smuts lost by 'n hair in 1948 for the same reason that Donald Trump won in 2016. Rural votes in 1948 vs Electoral districts in 2016. Jan Smuts won the popular votes in 1948 but lost the election. Donald Trump lost the popular votes in 2016 but won the election. This proves that losing the popular vote but winning the election is not real democracy. It proved to be flawed in 1948 in SA and it proves to be flawed in 2016 in the USA. Real democracy is found by winning the popular vote otherwise it will only be a victory built on sand.
But forget that for a second. This video is not a history of SA. It is all about the great visionary of a man called Jan Smuts. He had SA on the correct path but lost to "Afrikaner nasionalisme" in 1948. Right wing politics are famous for their selfishness and shortsightedness, and that had to play itself out in SA as it is playing itself out in the rest of the world. Right wing selfishness is illustrated by the 18 Boer Republics after the Groot Trek. Too many bosses (trek leiers) with their own ideas and too much power (self love) gave rise to a kind of division between right wing groups that still exist to this day.
It is not Jan Smuts or FW de Klerk that sold SA out. It is the division between selfish people that sold themselves out. South Africans were never a conquering nation. But the new South Africa have the chance to be an example to the rest of the world on how divided tribes and skin colours can stand together to work towards a common goal. Freedom and prosperity for all. Both don't come cheap.
If you listen carefully at 22:30 in the video one can understand how correct Jan Smuts was in saying: "Freedom is the most ineradicable craving of human nature. Without it peace, contentment and happiness even manhood itself are not possible. Happiness is freedom and freedom is courage. That is the fundamental equation of all politics and of all human government. And any system which ignores it, is built on sand.".
The National Party's dream of an Apartheid SA WAS built on sand that is why it could not last.
@@skalkananzi01 Tekweni Media did the filming.
I notice they used the banner of the National Film and Video Foundation which is an agency of the Dept of Arts and Culture.
So there is no conspiracy theory there.
Greatest SA statesman that there ever was. A real man of his time. Written out of history by the National party and now the ANC.
@@ApisVenandi kak man
@The river of no return eerstens moenie so bang poes wees en n skuilnaam gebruik nie, dalk is jy n anc lid vir al wat ek weet. 2dens, jy het klomp kaka raakgekliek en dink ek moet dit kyk en glo. Gebruik regte bronne met verwysings, onder jou naam, nie klomp internet gemors nie. Kom by man, jou hele poging om n punt te maak is pateties.
Yes he was a great leader a product of his times.
Nelson Mandela is the greatest statesman
@@petrorams194 Is or was if it is, where are you hiding him.
Despite its liberal perspective, this is, overall, a balanced documentary, well-researched, comprehensive and excellently produced.
Balanced? Boers did not get to give their side of the story, as usual. I am sure my grand father would have a lot to say why he did not support Jan Smuts
@@gerhardvanzyl9770 read Stephen Mitford Goodson's biography on Jan Smuts.
Gerhard van Zyl why would anyone not support the great man Smuts?
@@hanoitripper1809 Again as has been said elsewhere, there was much hate and bitterness towards the Brits as a result of the barbaric atrocities committed by British (England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) soldiers during the war. For Smuts to enter the fold of Britain was a slap in the face of the women and children who died in the concentration camps!
@@Westmen0 There are numerous biographies of Jan Smuts. The one I read was "Smuts the Patriot" by Piet Meiring (1975) theologian, author and at one stage also chairman of the SABC Board'.
For all his faults he was a great man and did do many great things. We should always remember that everyone make mistakes and no one is perfect. He did create South Africa as a country and without him this would probably not have happened. History is unfortunately a reality that we can only learn from.
It's also typical of human nature to focus on negative things.
His liberal stand and subsequent alienation to the so called " die uitverkoren van die volk" or Chosen people indeed a farcry
To the atrocities by volk boer and far ride patriachs like JBM Hertzog and his predecessor Louis Botha who even eventually awarded 97 percent of the land to minorities
Facts are facts, he sold out the Boers, the British blew smoke up his area where the sun didn't shine, they, the British were only interested in our gold and diamonds, which by the way they still own today in 2023, I am a Boer and despise what this union of Smuts and Britain has wrought
It is an interesting film.
That brought up many facts that i did not know about SA.
Even while i was living and working there for many years.
Thank you for downloading!
A thinker and leader, not a political thug or lollypop man.
brilliant documentary. Exceptionally well done.
25:45 as a kid i played with my frnds at those mines lol..59 now n it only feels like yesterday..geez time flies hehe ..peace✌
Ja, i took the trip from durban to randburg by car, in 1986. I was six years old at the time. How things have changed.
Hi Folks - In our present situation in South Africa and as a senior citizen who four uncles who fought for the British, two in the Royal Navy and two in the South African Army, a Grand Father in WW 1, a father who served in essential services in WW 2 , I served in the South African Citizen Force as did two of my sons, I do wonder what is next.
Naturally after living for a while, you die...
Maybe payback for the concentration camps, ?May they rot in helll😬
I'm my late 20s through all that history I'm of the 1st generation in my family to be a civy we too thought through it all and wonder what's next a lasting peace seems kinda strange with a history of nothing but conflict
And I wonder who South Africa will stand with in a future world war. As far as I understand it, most of our parliamentarians/politicians/those in government are funded by people who are pro/are the Western allies. And yet it seems we are allied to their opposition via our membership in BRICS. The Israeli/Gaza conflict has been very polarizing.
Thank you for this. I understand certain things much better after watching this detailed and great presentation!
Thanks, very good, seems to be a dearth of documentaries on him and you have done a great job of fulfilling that need.
Funny how I know nothing about this man but so many roads are named after him
I remember my father describing how happy he had been when Smuts lost the election in 1948, something he was not surprised about but apparently it was a shock to many. He said Smuts had gotten too close to the British and many Afrikaaners resented this. British interference in South Africa over prior decades was not appreciated by the Afrikaaner nationalists and memories of the Boer War were still fresh in many minds even though it had been nearly 50 years since.
Only 30 years later the Afrikaaners want the blacks to forget about apartheid completely and embrace them but they could not get over a 50 year old war. The double standards.
@@TJSDU I'm sure it is going to take a lot longer than 50 years.
Veni, vidi, vici! Rome did it, the Brits did it everywhere and now the Americans do it all over again! And they are like gods because the murder millions and their victims chose to fight each other, so they prosper and become "destroyer of worlds".
I can attest that they made an alliance with my king back than, and that alliance is still up...I'm gonna guess but it's very possible Smuts new he couldn't just say no to them! Eventually he did and they took him out!
The Hapsburgs should had been dealt with early in the 14th century, Venice filled them up with lots of cash (by the way the same ones that founded the nation corporation called Netherlands) today only Russia and China can confront them!
It's gonna be an interesting century!
If you look at history it was not only the ABO, it was also WW1 with the Rebellion where many that fought in the ABO were jailed because the objected against joining the war. This was followed by the great depression of the 30 s an then the outbreak of WW2 at the end of the 30s where there were many that thought that South Africa had enough problems of its own to join a war. So no, at least three major incidents after the ABO.
Nothing flawed about him.He was the creator of the RAF.A brilliant soldier and man.
He is not respected by all. He did nothing to prevent the death of our hero, Jopie Fourie.
@@sonjaswart9866 Who was Jopie? Never heard of him.
@@sonjaswart9866 not respected by idiots, that’s all.
What a brilliant South African
We “The British” were lucky to have him on our side in WW2
without a doubt, Jan Smuts a South African son of the soil was an inspiration during world war 2 and a friend to King George V1, Winston Churchill, and Dwight D Eisenhower, In May 1945 Jan Smuts represented South Africa at the drafting of the United Nations charter,. What a great disappointment the current UN is today. They have betrayed their souls for political power.
His loss to the NATS in 1948 was unbelievable (to him and the majority) and took South Africa down a road that we have not recovered from
Some times the old fashioned views are the correct views( shhh...but we're not supposed to say that)
A definite coup......
He was never with the National Party. Smuts' party was the South African Party (later morphing into the United Party), a party of reconciliation between Boer and Brit and central to his belief that divisive politics was destructive. The Nats were diametrically opposed to this, having Afrikaner domination at the core of their beliefs.
@@CONNELL19511216 not sure who you are replying. I said "his loss TO the NATS"
@@mvubu6823 Your wording is somewhat ambiguous.
I read somewhere that Jan Smuts was concerned that the native problem was not solved in his lifetime. Therefore it appears that his holistic idea needed to be developed with time.
It has still not been solved even today.
In the Netherlands we learned about Jan Smuts but I honestly can't remember what it involved. 😅 good thing this is on TH-cam.
General Smuts was a great Philosopher, Statesman ,Leader and a man of true integrity Very proud of him.Well respected .🙏💪🙏💝.y Father had his same name and quite frankly, the same temperament A Philosopher and wize person My Dad was his 2nd Cousin💝
The state he created was a stinking cesspool of racism and violence against 80% of the population. Philosopher?? He was intelligent enough to know his countrymen were intent on holding onto power at all costs , no matter how low and brutal they had to go.
Yet taught nothing of blacks and Indians in his own country...... 😂😂😂
handkhaki@@rodgerhargoon3402
Integrity was not one of his traits.
handkhaki. @@sandrajansevanvuuren7891
Well don't all geniuses have their flaws, all human beings in fact. The society he lead was fatally flawed.
Nobody is perfect, we all have our faults.
A brilliant documentary! Thank you.
Wow! As a south african, I never knew 90% of these facts.
I am sad, shocked, angry, all at once. Things could have been so different if only...
...the Hapsburgs had been dealt with early 14th c.
In 1869 the Boers did help Portuguese to attack humbi in the mataman region...
Vryheid vir die Boer! South Africa never should have become a union. The union of South Africa is unsustainable and morally wrong. It s to bad that this documentary does not give more incite to the Boer rebellion of 1914. It was in 1914 that Jan Smuts lost the support of his people, the Afrikaners. And to understand Afrikaner politics, you have to understand the rebellion of 1914.
Jis Gerhard klink my ou jan het bieki gat geryp da by die engelse..! Trust nie so man om GOD se land vir GOD se mense te behou nie..!!
Jip. Jopie Fourie.
@@corneljansevanrensburg5552 Fourie moes bedank het uit die SA Weermag voor hy gerebelleer het. Hy het nie, en het in sy weermaguniform sy gedeeltes van die rebelle gelei.
Dit was hoogverraad.
With Mandela, surely the greatest son of South African soil. His towering intellect and leadership entrenched western values world wide in the twentieth century. His obvious blind spot towards the black South African is deeply lamentable, but seen in contrast with the fascist leaders of the National Party like Malan and eventually Verwoerd, his was the leadership that this country needed more.
Mandela modelled his own leadership on the boer Generals he would often discuss them with the prison guards at robben Island
What a fascinating documentary. Im surprised no one has made a life story of Jan Smuts.
For me ,a descendant of a Bittereinder BOER who never signed the Oath,,went into exile to German East Africa,,Tanzania,,,
He was a TRAITOR, which caused a Rebelion😢😢
My Dad was British, but when Smuts died my dad's words were "SA without a leader, what will happen now"
If I'm not mistaken, Einstein on publishing his theory said that Jan Smuts was 1 of 5 people on earth who understood it.
Who are the other 4
@@imrankh68 I'm not sure but I'd guess they would have been physicists.
Jan Smuts International Airport is now called O.R. Tambo International Airport, that should be enough to tell you what Free South Africa thinks of the man.
You are a fool simple. You are not even a black person. Embracing a colonizer, instead of a liberator.
They the anc can call it whatever they like , it will always be Jan Smut’s airport to me , as long as I have a hole up my ass , and all the rest of the renamed places that the terrorists have given names to , will always be the old original names in my mind , I still proudly fly the old SA Flag at my home
OR Tambo did more for the freedom of the blacks than Smuts. Fair is fair, let the boeres build monuments to him. But now free SA is a black man's country.
@@nostramashego4226 In who's land? South Africa never belonged Europeans. Build him one in Holland.
@@nostramashego4226 Yes, we can see it's a black man's country... 😂😂😂
Thank you for this video.
An enigma. Loved more outside of his country than it it - like Gorbachev?
Gorbachev helped the west plunder Russia, he's not loved by most europeans for sure!
Whatever you think of Smuts, he was a South African that Winston Churchill said should replace him if anything happend to Churchill as Prime Minister of the UK.
Then Smuts must also have been a freemason, because Churchill is a well known freemason who would only have bestowed such privilege to another freemason
@@andriesbodenstein5454Nelson Mandela was apparently a 33rd degree freemason
Yes, I was amazed when I heard that.
Mm Smuts even had an input in the 1920s to the then (and some say still unresolved) Irish question. He had talks with DeValera and his extra words put into George Vs speech (at the NI Parliament opening) helped bring about the Truce between the Irish Nationalists, fighting the UK in the Irish War of Independence (1919- 1921) and the British Army. That Truce led to the Anglo Irish Treaty 1921, giving Saorstat Eireann/Irish Free State , independence. But that left NI still in the UK (and therein, its own internal blatent discrimination later led to 30 years of civil unrest -the Troubles).
The Hapsburg Beast!
Did not know this and I did a video on the guy this is some hidden lore
As South African I've read about the man from school in history books and I admire him. I'm an African origin
You should read wider than your history books.
Best documentary film🔥
Thank you
Our greatest statesman! Extremely intelligent a true Afrikaner, such a travesty that his own people who he fought for in the Boer War rejected him in the end. No statesman that came after him anywhere on the world stage came even close to his brilliance and statesmanship, he was head and shoulders above them.
Until now, I had no idea he fought with tbe Boers against the British.
Hogwash, Smuts never fought against the British. They were his buddies. He was a traitor who forgot Kitcheners death camps where our people, mostly women and children died in their thousands. My uncles travelled to Germany via Namibia and became Luftwaffe BF 109 fighter pilots. Both died on the Eastern front in Russia...
My grandfather says that when Smuts Died the whole Nation cried it did not matter who you are from the high lands of zululand to the low lands of pondoland all south Africans payed their respact a true Patriot had died. The only white man to have ever earn a respect from allthe tribes of south africa a true son of the soil.
@Ginza i wonder what kind of history would south africa have today if the old man never stood his ground!!
To all who admire J. Smuts, there is a man called Allan Savory, Rhodesian born, who is building upon Smuts work and is using it to solve our worlds biggest problem.
They were crazy kanti busy crying for a colonizer. What were our black people fed to worship labantu kanje
As a young white English speaking male, I started my National Service in 1970. Almost universally, my fellow Afrikaner servicemen loathed Smuts. They portrayed him as an Imperialist who sided with the very nation that had ruthlessly crushed their attempts to be free and independent. They all had stories handed down to them of the atrocities the English had perpetrated in their concentration camps. I initially believed that they were simply lying, but on investigation, found it to be true and worse than i had ever imagined. A great man? Maybe, but seriously flawed as your title states. To say the whole nation mourned, well, I know that is not correct.
Your grandfather lied. To this day, many of us Afrikaans speaking Boer people regard him a traitor
Very impressive documentary,
Glad you enjoyed it!
He committed alot of people to war and gave them peace afterwards
Thank you for this documentary on the greatest South African to ever have lived (I know others will have different opinions so please,no hateful comments!!)
A brilliant man no doubt. Pity he used his talent setting up a racist apartheid violent state. Passing an act taking 95% land for white people is disgusting .
Fantastic documentary. Thank You
Excellent presentation. You forgot to mention the important role he played with the forming of the state of Israel.
He always had the best interest for all South Africans at heart
No, he was one of the biggest traitors to the Afrikaners! He might be an English hero for the many Afrikaners men that he sent to prisoners' camps.
He was a man of his time.
His time was over 100 years ago, the world and humanity was very different.
This is where our problems started. He was the beginning of the end!
I've read autobiographies about Jan Smuts, been to his house museum at Irene, by Pretoria, and so on.
Before the Anglo-Boer War he was pro-British, during the Anglo-Boer War he was anti-British, and after the Anglo-Boer War was pro-British.
During the Anglo-Boer War, Jan Smuts wrote the book 'A century of wrong'. It is said that it's by FW Reitz, but is actually by Jan Smuts. It's about the wrong ways of the British towards the Boers. It would be held against Jan Smuts for the rest of his life.
There were two sides to his personality. One was the spiritual side. This he had a lot at his house. It has a strong spiritual vibration. He also had that somewhat when abroad. He was for instance against the Treaty of Versailles. He was also one of the founders of the League of Nations & United Nations.
He was also good allies with Winston Churchill. There were times, when Churchill was away, that he would be ruling Britain. He was also, as mentioned, in favour of the British Empire. One mustn't judge history by today's standards.
There is then the other side of his personality, the physical side. which includes racist attitudes when ruling South Africa. So, he was like a different person in South Africa, and abroad. Jan Smuts was thus mostly disliked in South Africa, and mostly liked overseas.
in other words a turncoat
@@ottomeyer6928 No, in other words a nuanced and complex human being and not a sheep abiding by overly simplistic binaries....
@@ottomeyer6928 in other words a realist and pragmatist
Aquarius1011, this is by far the most sensible and objective synopsis I’ve read after all the comments I’ve seen about Gen Jan Smuts. You’ve helped fill in the gaps and I understand the mixed reactions, “remarkable” to some “sell out” to others. His contribution to the assembling of this country, whether good or bad, still remains worthy to be acknowledged
In my Boer view he was a snake with two heads
This was excellent. Focusing on his place in history as not just a South African leader, but as a key founding father of the world's government is a subject of immense importance in today's global world. From some of the more recent historical figures of history like William Penn, Napoleon, Churchill and others; Jan Smut's clearly saw his place in this melding process. "Spare the conquered, battle down the proud" was a maxim he was quite aware of. He knew his country was conquered. He couldn't beat em, so he joined em; like we all have had to do at some point in our people's past. Those that wish to look upon him as a traitor or racist do so only from the perspective of the moment in time and within a vacuum of ignorance towards the wholesale unifying journey of man.
The federation of the world's people was a foregone conclusion since the start. It has all been just a matter of time when all the little villages, bigger city states and then continental nations could be brought together in unity whether under the pen or sword. Seeking harmony thereafter becomes an eternal work in progress of which each and every one of us is responsible for.
Ha. I wonder how many would make the 17 km walk to the Union buildings intact today.
LOL I think most will be out of breath just walking out of their huge houses anf fighting to get into the back of their Merc's/BMW's
Long walk down Botha ave through fountains all the way to the union building from Doornkloof
Haha I googled it. It is now 24km's.
Back in those days a lot of it was probably via bushpaths.
@@Bennevisie There were probably no tsotsies lurking around either.
One of the few humans who immediately understood and grasped the THEORY OF GENERAL RELATIVITY IN 1919 this theory was ALBERT EINSTEIN greatest work.
when Jan Smuts died we had the day off from school that made him my hero for a day