GPW_AR_2013_Final_v10.pdf

HISTORY AND MILESTONES

1. From 1652 to 1976 During its rule of the Western Cape region of South Africa from 1652 to 1799, the Dutch East Indian Company did not allow the operation of any printing facilities until its ½ nal years of existence in the regions. The ½ rst attempt to produce printed matter in the Cape was initiated during 1782 by Governor van Plettenberg, when a ship, transporting money from the Netherlands, was delayed due to poor weather conditions at sea.This resulted in a shortage of money and the governor had no option other than to produce primitive banknotes on a parchment substrate, as an interim measure. During 1784, the Dutch East Indian Company appointed . ohann Christian Ritter, a Bavarian born in Bayrouth in 1755, to assume duties as an artisan bookbinder in the Cape. He brought with him a small printing press and successfully produced a variety of maps on behalf of the organisation over the year. As a result of his success, the ½ rst printing plant was established in the Cape in 1785, with Ritter being appointed the ½ rst printing superintendent. It is thus widely accepted that Ritter is the founder of the printing industry in the Republic of South Africa. A number of other artisans joined Ritter’s printing company in the following years and, although a variety of printed matter such as government notices, handbills and other documents were produced, printing facilities remained limited until 1800 when Walker & Robertson, a prominent company in the trading of slaves, imported a complete set of printing machines and support equipment. This was installed in February 1800 at the company’s premises situated at 35 Plein Street in Cape Town. Subsequently, the company was appointed by Governor Yonge as the sole supplier of government printed matter in the Cape colony. Yonge also authorised the company to produce a weekly gazette, which commenced circulation with effect from 1 August 1800, known as the “ / aapsche Stads Courant”. This publication was the precursor to what is today known as the “Government Gazette”. Following his appointment as the new governor of the Cape colony during 1801, Major-General Dundas monopolised all government and commercial printing and subsequently issued an order of attachment on the printing facility of Walker & Robertson. On 8 October 1801, the entire printing works was moved to the Castle and the ½ rst GPW was established under the supervision of Sir . ohn Barrow, a government of ½ cial who also served as accounts auditor of the Cape colony. He held this position until British re-occupation of the Cape during 1806, when George Ross was appointed the superintendent of printing. The first apprentice to learn and complete a printing trade in South Africa was BJ van der Sandt, who enrolled at the printing facility during 1811 and remained there until retirement age, eventually also being appointed as the superintendent of printing.

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GPW ANNUAL REPORT 2012 | 2013