3 August 1964

The Oosthuizen Monument is situated in the Blyvooruitzicht Mining Town

adjacent to Carletonville. The Monument was erected in memory of the

Oosthuizen Family and their domestic worker who, with their house

disappeared down a massive sinkhole on 3 August 1964. The following is a

free translation of a newspaper report describing their tragic death.





"Blyvooruitzicht, August 1964

In the winter night of 3 August 1964 the Carletonville community was struck

by disaster, when the Oosthuizen family, as well as their maid, was buried

alive, with their house and all, in a massive sinkhole. It can be counted

as the sinkhole incident, which made Carletonville a known town in and

outside of South Africa, but one, which at the same time caused fear.



Mr. Johannes Marthinus Oosthuizen (36), attached to the Blyvooruitzight

Gold Mine, his wife Hester and their three children, Jacoba (12), Johannes

(8) and Marianne (6), came back from a lovely holiday at Amanzimtoti,

during the weekend of 1 August 1964. Their house in the Westdene-suburb of

the Blyvooruitzight goldmine had a dilapidated appearance and this was part

of the reason the family was not enthusiastic to return home to a "normal"

life. For Mr. Oosthuizen it was however not possible to adhere to the

please of his wife and children to stay for a few extra holiday days. Mr.

Oosthuizen quoted various responsibilities before his leave would come to

as his defence against the pleading eyes of his family.