Ted Botha’s Daisy De Melker. Hiding Among Killers In The Gold City
A Story Of Chicago in Africa
Reviewed By Barry Viljoen
The 11th of May would see the Women’s Jail at Constitutional Hill, Braamfontein in the heart of Johannesburg play host to the launch of one of Johannesburg’s most iconic and memorable stories. One which was so unexpected, unlikely, and improbable that it still holds fascination almost a century later. Though the story has grown and developed and turned into an urban legend, intertwined with fact. This is something which Ted Botha has worked incredibly hard to separate the two, so as to tell as true a story as possible, of Daisy De Melker.
A name that is known both locally and internationally. However, while being a larger-than-life character, she in many ways could be considered innocuous. Possibly one of the reasons she was able to continue with her general business uninterrupted, for 20 years, despite those around her dying. From that point, she and her case captured the attention of all internationally and locally.
An apt venue considering this was where she was held during the course of her trial, until her execution. It was also where almost all the information known about her, originated during her trial. Her cell has been converted into a historical exhibition and of course, a story exists that her ghost is still a resident. As the sunset on this iconic location, and as we started to unpack this story which is stranger than fiction, the feel and essence of the location became more pronounced.
Brian McKechnie was our interview host, an architect and Heritage consultant, who is hugely passionate about the city of Johannesburg and the stories attached to it. Ted Botha, the author worked very hard to tell this story in an honest, accurate, and easy-to-read manner. Which Brian highlighted that while being a historical book, it is as gripping and engrossing as a novel.
What many might forget is that few of the residents of the city at that point were natives of it. This was the gold rush era and the city was mushrooming. Attracting a spectrum of inhabitants, and making the city already at that point, a place with a stark disparity. From mansions to steel shack houses. Due to its magnetic pull, the city was much like the depiction of Chicago at the time. As eloquently highlighted by both Brian and Dan, during the course of their conversation. To support these comparisons, the story sees the crossing of paths with other historical figures of the time.
During the course of the conversation, both participants did their best to build interest and anticipation towards the book and a story that is not just held dear by the author but also by the host. The conversation highlighted some of the misconceptions held regarding this story. While this is a story that grabbed the attention of the world at the time, they argue that this is a story that very much belongs to and is a part of the city. Even in small and seemingly benign details, such as the fact that she was born the same year as the city was officially established, albeit in the then Grahamstown.
Already just from this, you can understand why this is a case that can easily move into the realm of mysticism, in the eyes of some. I for one am interested to read a more accurate depiction of this story, in which fact appears stranger than fiction. Regardless of your view, it is, however, explicitly clear that this city is as intertwined with the city’s history as its history is with this case.
