Stellenbosch, Pniel, Square

Abstract

Photographs and information on the monument with a bell on the town square in Pniel. Pniel itself was established in 1843 from a land donation by the owners of the farm De Goede Hoop to landless and homeless slaves. On the commons in the middle of the village hangs an interesting bell of about 40cm in diameter in a horseshoe type monument. The monument was erected by Rhodes Fruit farms and the bell dates from 1846. The inscription is in German and reads as follows: Wachet und betet, Marci. 14 v.38 geg. von P.W.Rauner. in Barmen 1846. The inscription refers to a sentence from the Gospel of Saint Marc and means “Be vigilant and pray.” We have no information on P.W. Rauner. We take it for granted that “geg.” stands as an abbreviation of “gegossen”. Barmen used to be a small village in Germany that was later amalgamated with the larger city of Wuppertal. Up to now we have not found any reference to a foundry there. In 2006 the function of the monument was changed. A plaque mentions the following: PNIEL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BELL TOWER DEDICATED TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN MEMORY OF OUR SLAVES ANCESTORS AND ALL THOSE WHO SERVED THIS CHURCH AND COMMUNITY FAITHFULLY. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me PSALM 16,6 UNVEILED BY REVD.DR.PRINCE M. DIBEELA (GENERAL SECRETARY UCCSA) 24TH SEPTEMBER 2006. The monument was erected in memory of the victims of slavery. It looks like the bell had been hanging in the clock tower next to the church where it was protected since 1936. However it was later removed and put on the square.