In 1699 this piece of land on Strand Street was granted to Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. In 1806 Margaretha Jacoba Smuts, the widow of Hendrik J. de Wet, bought the house and she lived there with her family and six enslaved people: Jonas van de Caab, Citie (Jonas’ wife) and their two children Hector and Jacob, Theresia, Kito van Mosambique (a cook) and July (a servant). At her death, ten enslaved people were registered. July is not mentioned, but new enslaved people were Lafleur (lumberjack), Lendor (lumberjack), Kado (tailor) and Nancy (a little girl of four). Marie de Wet, Smuts’ granddaughter, married Johan Koopmans. After his death, Marie began to call herself Koopmans-de Wet in honour of Johan, hence the current name of the house. Marie was committed to the creation of a women’s movement and the preservation of South Africa’s colonial heritage. She bequeathed the house to the government and in 1914 it became a museum.

Sources

• Iziko Museums of South Africa. (N.d.). Koopmans-de Wet House. https://www.iziko.org.za/museums/koopmans-de-wet-house/.