The Greek Community of South Africa

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Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Hellenes, immigrants, reached the Southern shores of what now constitutes the Republic of South Africa.

It appears that the first such immigrants inhabited the area of Cape Town and as their numbers gradually increased, they began trekking northwards towards Johannesburg and Pretoria.

At the beginning of the last (twentieth) century, small concentrations of Hellenes were formed in these towns, numbering a few hundred individuals each, who, aware of the need to safeguard their religions, linguistic and cultural tenets / ideals, formed themselves into regional societies which they named Hellenic communities, each such community named after a town or region.



Thus, the Hellenic Community of Cape Town and environs was the first to be formed in Cape Town (1903), followed by the Hellenic Community of Johannesburg and Witwatersrand (1908) and Hellenic Community of Pretoria (1908).

As the Hellenic population gradually increased and sizeable concentrations of Hellenes were formed in the other major towns of South Africa, additional Hellenic communities were formed in these towns, with aims consistent with those of the pioneering Hellenic Communities mentioned above.

Simultaneously, and over the first six decades of the twentieth century, a number of Hellenic Ethnic Regional Societies were formed, representing Hellenes, originating in a specific area or region of Greece, Cyprus or other countries, as well as other Hellenic organizations serving the interests of Hellenes in a specific field of human endeavour or expression such as education, benevolence, sport, private enterprise, professional.


The Hellenic communities and the other Hellenic organizations were and still are, independent and self-governed institutions, which prior to the formation of the Federation had very little appreciation of co-operating with each other for a common purpose. Especially the Hellenic Communities, which were content to serve the interests of the Hellenes in the area of their operation.


Community of ALBERTON

It was evident that Greeks were business people in Alberton as early as the early 1940's. The Greek of Alberton participated very actively in the anti-Fascist struggles of the 1940's. The idea for the establishment of a community as a legal entity was nurtured in the late 1950's. On the the 10th of November 1963 the first elected E.C was installed for a two year term.

Community of BLOEMFONTEIN

Community of EAST LONDON

The 1st official E.C. of the Greek community of East London was elected in 1968. The community maintains a Greek after-school and a Greek Orthodox church dedicated to St. George.

Community of FAR WEST RAND

The Hellenic community of Far West Rand was informally established in 1950's, due to the great "gold rush" of the times. Officialy it was established on the 9th of December 1980.

Community of JOHANNESBURG

As early as 1895 a few Greeks began to settle in Johhanesburg. In 1902 (after the 2nd Boer War) as many as 1000 Greeks were residing in Johannesburg. Brotherhoods and Associations were established trying to offer assistance to newcomers. In 1908, the "Hellenic Community Of Johannesburg and Surroundings" was formed, which consisted then, of 200 members.

Community of NATAL

The very first Greek immigrants in Natal settled around the end of 19th century. The "Hellenic Association of Natal" was formed around these years. In 1950's the formation of the "Greek Community of Natal" took place.

Community of PRETORIA

According to records found in the archives of the Hellenic Community of Pretoria, in 1906 the Greek settlers who reached Pretoria, numbered about 120 and formed two small societies, namely, ELLINISMOS & PANHELLENIC BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. The Hellenic Community of Pretoria was born, on the 1st of July 1908.

Community of SRINGS

The Hellenic Society of Springs was formed in 1958. Later, in 1974 it was renamed Hellenic Community of Springs covering a much bigger number of Greeks residing in the area.

Community of WELKOM

One can find Greeks in Welkom since 1950's. In 1956 the official formation of the Greek Community of Welkom took place.

Community of BENONI

In 1937, the Hellenic Association of Benoni was formed by Hellenes residing in and around the area, in their atempt to put together a Greek after-school for their children. After the 2nd WW, they managed to buy an old house, turning it into the 1st official Greek school of Benoni. In 1968, the Association was transformed to Hellenic Community of Benoni.

Community of CAPE TOWN

The oldest Greek community of S. Africa, is the Hellenic community of Cape Town. In 1898 a charity organisation offering aid to Greek immigrands was formed. In 1900, the grounds where the Greek Orthodox church stands today, was purchased from funds collected by the Greek community. The Greek Community of Cape Town become a reality.

Community of EAST RAND

The first Greek to settle within the East Rand, were mostly from Crete, Cyprus, Samo, Lemno, Ithaka and the northern parts of Greece. The first "East Rand Hellenic Association" was established in 1936. The community of "East Rand" was established in 1950's and covered Brakpan, Benoni, Springs, Boksburg, Kempton Park, Nigel and Germiston.

Community of GERMISTON & DISTRICTS

The history of the Hellenic community of Germiston began in 1955. The driving force behind the formation of the community, were some of the foundational members of the Imbrian Brotherhood, who had been in existence since 1937 and who lived in Germiston.

Community of KIMBERLEY

One could find Greeks in Kimberley since 1925, most of them involved in small retail business. During the 2nd WW, many more Greek immigrants arrived. On the 26 September 1981, the Hellenic Community of Kimberley was formed.

Community of PORT ELIZABETH

The first Greeks arrived in Port Elizabeth in 1879. They were either survivors of a shipwreck or sailors. In 1927 one could identify Greek retail businesses. In 1936, the "Hellenic Community of Port Elizabeth" was formally established.

Community of RUSTENBURG

About 10 Greek families settled in Rustenburg since 1960's. As more Greek immigrants were joining them the need for an organisation become clearer. On 13 November, 1965 the 1st E.C. of the Hellenic Community of Rustemburg was ellected.

Community of VAAL TRIANGLE

Community of WESTERN TRANSVAAL

The first Greeks arrived in Klerksdorp (a very small village then) in 1936. Many more followed. On the 11th of October 1959, the Hellenic Community of Western Transvaal was officialy formed.

Community of WEST RAND

The Hellenic community of West Rand tried to build a Greek Orthox church, since 1960, knowing only too well that such an achievement would be the official start of the formation of the Greek Community of West Rand. In August 1974 the church was ready. That was the start of a very active Hellenic community.

http://sagreeks.tripod.com/id1.html

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The history of the Greek pioneers in Durban is a history of struggles for survival and individual or group achievement. The first recorded presence of Greeks in Natal was before the Anglo-Boer War. The pioneer immigrants were mainly men from many regions of Greece. For example P. Agathangelou (P. Angelos) who arrived in 1898 was from Paphos, Cyprus. C. Defterios who arrived in 1901 was from Sami. T. Calliotzis who arrive in 1903 was from Smyrna; C. Metaxas who arrived in 1902 was from Cephallonia as was I. Marinakis who arrived in 1900. D. Grangos who arrived in 1897 was from Ithica and V. Christoforos who arrived in 1902 from Lemnos. Alexandros Bozas was from Dardanellia in Asia Minor and A. Rakakidis who arrived in 1894 was from Lemons. Constantine Fostiras was in Chakas Kraal together with B. Mendonidis who was from Ofrynio (Hios).

These and several others established a benevolent association called Hellenic Association of Natal in order to look after newcomers and tend to the sick and needy It president for many years was S. Metaxas.

As immigration patterns developed, new families arrived to the city like G. Defterios, B. Doukas, S. Theodorou, S. Koustas, C. Rahanis, A. Flaskas and others. Most of them were involved in the running of café shops, general dealer stores and bakeries. Some of them became owners of buildings and plots of land.

During the national struggles, especially against fascism (1940-1945), the Greeks in Durban actively participated in both the battlefields and in the diaspora, with the collection of funds and visits to those wounded. After the war the new immigration waves to South Africa from Greece saw many newcomers to Durban, most prominent among these persons were the Criticos brothers, M. Apouselam, G. Goulakos, D. Syrris, Ch. Pampalis and many others. After the war there was a concerted effort to revitalise the community structures, initiated by amongst others D. Tsambiras, S. Couvaras, C. Adamou, Th. Sipsomors, Fostiras and others.

Aris Kosmas arrived in Durban from India in 1947 together with Sypsomos, who was the brother of the Greek poet, Lambros Porfyris. Aris Kosmas was the leader who galvanised the community for the birth of legal entity and a community with a constitution and a school for the children to learn the Greek language. In 1950 all Greeks in the city and surrounding areas had the first annual general meeting of the proposed community and the Hellenic Association of Natal was established. The first executive committee consisted of Aris Kosmas (president) M. Apouselan and P. Pendopoulos (vice-presidents G. Goulakos (general secretary) Ch. Pampalis (treasurer) G. Comninos, D. Tsabiras, S. Tsakos, C. Colyvas, S. Couvaras, Th. Sipsomas, C. Adamou (members) These names appeared in a full report of the proceedings of the meeting in the Johannesburg newspaper, Afrikanis. (Unfortunately, the minute books and other written documents of that pioneer period do not exist in the archives of the Hellenic Association of Natal).

http://www.hellenicorganisation.co.z...Community.html