Dr Jotello F. Soga (Jesse Lewis presentation)

Research reveals remarkable life of SA’s first veterinarian
Cape Argus, October 17 2011 at 12:06pm

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Dr Jotello Soga, the first South African-born veterinarian.

NEO MADITLA

Staff Reporter

FOR 26 years, he was the only South African-born veterinarian - a remarkable achievement for a man whose race meant he could not hold a position with the colonial government.

Dr Jotello Soga, the son of Reverend Tiyo Soga, a Xhosa man from the Eastern Cape, and his Scottish-born wife Janet Burnside, qualified at the University of Edinburgh.

This and other fascinating information emerged from research into Soga’s life by American former journalist Jesse Lewis, who presented his findings at the 30th World Veterinary Congress at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last week. Lewis told delegates he became fascinated by Soga’s story after stumbling across his name.

Soga was just 21 when he graduated from the Royal (Dick) College of Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh in 1886. And, said Lewis, he was “far more than just a statistical first”.

“For 26 years he was the only South African-born veterinarian. The second South African veterinarian did not qualify until 1912.”

During his remarkable life, Soga played a leading role as a member of a small team of vets in eradicating rinderpest, which threatened South Africa in the late 19th century.

“His efforts were publicly acknowledged by Lord Alfred Milner, the British governor, yet the British colonial government denied him a permanent position because of his race.”


Soga’s biography on the website of the University of Pretoria’s library, which is named after him, says he was born in 1865 at the Mgwali Mission, in the former Transkei. He was the fourth son of Reverend Tiyo and Janet Soga, and went to Scotland with his family when his father pursued religious studies in 1846.

In 1892 Soga returned, and Lewis said that as a trained vet his skills were vital when rinderpest and other diseases threatened herds and flocks.

“While formal apartheid was not introduced until after 1948, racial discrimination was already entrenched in British-controlled South Africa, and the status of ‘non-whites’ was restricted.”

It worked to Soga’s advantage that he spoke English and Xhosa.

At the time there were only a few other vets here, but they were from outside the country. His immediate task was to contain the spread of lung sickness, which was decimating cattle. He did his own inoculation experiments, and his methods were later accepted as standard.”

Soga also lectured farmers on ways to control and treat livestock diseases.


But in 1902 his health began to fail. He left government service and tried to set up a private practice. Later, he worked as a farm supervisor near East London, and ran a small clinic.

Soga died at 41.

neo.maditla@inl.co.za

Dr Jotello F. Soga tribute:30th World Veterinary Congress

Report from SABC news: Oct 2011
The 30th World Veterinary Congress in Cape Town has paid a special tribute to the first South African veterinarian, Dr Jotello Soga for his leading role in eradicating rinderpest. Soga graduated from Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom in 1886. He died in 1906 at the age of 41.

Jotello Festire Soga was the son of Tiyo Soga, the first black South African to be ordained as minister in the United Presbyterian Church in December 1856. Soga became the first South African to become a qualified veterinarian in 1886 at the age of 21.

Former American journalist Jesse Lewis has described Jotello Soga as a veterinarian who played a leading role in eradicating rinderpest, a merciless killer of cattle that threatened South Africa in the late 19th Century. Lewis who is also a short film maker of South African history says Soga's name should not end with his death.

It is very special that Dr Soga who is a South African travelled and qualified as veterinarian about 120 years ago
"Dr Soga has been dead for over 100 years, and I think he is a role model, a beacon for young South Africans of all races and culture to explore veterinary science as a career and for them to achieve that excellence, I think he is a model to show all South Africans of whatever colour that they too can contribute meaningfully to South Africa's future."
In 2008 the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science marked its 100th anniversary by naming its Library in Dr Soga's honour. The South African Veterinary Association has an annual award known as the Soga Medal for community service.

Professor Banie Penzhorn says: "It is very special that Dr Soga who is a South African travelled and qualified as veterinarian about 120 years ago, that is why we like to commemorate his contribution to veterinary science in South Africa."

The 30th World Veterinary Congress under the theme, "Caring for Animals, Healthy Communities" ends today with a visit to the Khayelitsha Animal Clinic.

30th World Veterinary Congress, Cape Town 2011

Celebrating the 250th anniversary of the veterinary medical profession in the world, a history session was included in the program of the 30th World Veterinary Congress, held in Cape Town in October 2011. The Jotello F. Soga Library librarians participated in this session by presenting a paper (see details below). Libraries have a most important role in preserving and documenting historical developments so this paper was definitely a highlight. To read the full text click on the link given.

The authors focused on the importance of making valuable and scarce veterinary information available on an open access platform such as an institutional repository, to ensure the preservation of the veterinary history of a country.

http://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/568

http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17556

The digital preservation of the history of veterinary science in South Africa

authors: Amelia Breytenbach, Antoinette Lourens and Susan Marsh
Jotello F.Soga Library, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria

ABSTRACT

The history of Veterinary Science in South Africa can only be appreciated, studied, researched and passed on to coming generations if historical sources are readily available. Material and sources with historical value in any country are often difficult to locate, are often dispersed over a large area and not part of the conventional book and journal literature. The Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria and its library have access to a large collection of historical sources. The collection consists of photos, slides, documents, proceedings, posters, audiovisual material, postcards and other memorabilia. Other institutions in the country are also being approached if relevant sources are identified in their collections. In 2006 the University of Pretoria’s institutional repository, UPSpace, was launched. This provided the Jotello F Soga library with the opportunity to populate the repository with relevant digitised collections of diverse heritage and learning resources that can contribute to the long term preservation and accessibility of historical veterinary sources. These collections can be utilised not only by historians and researchers in South Africa but also Africa and the rest of the world.


Description:

Paper presented at the 30th World Veterinary Congress: 'Caring for animals: healthy communities', Cape Town, South Africa, 10-14 October 2011.