One of General Koos de La Rey's strongest principles was that he sought no revenge and held no bitterness.
At the Night of the Generals on May 5 at the Lalapanzi Hotel just south of Louis Trichardt, the story was recounted how General Koos (Jacobus Herculaas) de La Rey freed the severely wounded British Lord Methuen so that he could receive better medical attention. After the war, the De La Rey and Methuen families became friends, even though the order to burn down the houses of the Boers, including De La Rey's own house, came form Methuen.
Dr Jackie Grobler of the Department of Historical and Heritage studies at the University of Pretoria and author of several books, gave a fascinating presentation on General De La Rey (1847 -1914). Though De la Rey did not have the privilege of regimental training, he was an excellent and natural military strategist.
"Above all, he had what was needed: faith in God, steadfast principles, loyalty beyond question and a total lack of revenge seeking," recounted master of ceremonies Charles Leach.
The event was attended by some 80 guests from Limpopo, including the Soutpansberg, Mooketsi, Modjadjiskloof and Haenerstburg as well as from Pretoria and the Free State.
"The event can be described as a sort of moral awakening on a small scale. These generals were leaders with convictions and principles. That is what we need in our present-day society where we have lost our morals," Leach said on May 7.