Gideon Daniel Pienaar, 1904-1963 was a personal aide/bodyguard to Jan Smuts (based on family photographs I assume it was nearer the end of Jan Smuts' life, so before 1950).
While there is a lot of press in newspaper archives regarding his role as Station Commander/Lt. Col. at the Sharpeville Police Station, as well as interview material in various inquiries/TRC archives online regarding his role in this incident, I'm unable to find any reference to his role in the personal protection of Jan Smuts (although I do have a photo or two which may have some clues).
How might I go about finding evidence of this? Are the SANDF or SA Military Archives which would show who worked alongside him in a guard-like capacity? Perhaps photograph archives showing him with his security team?
Good day Danielle
Please join the Facebook study group 'South Africans in WW1, WW2 and Korean War' - this is a panel on highly knowledgeable people on every facet of the two world Wars in which Smuts features prominently. Members range from ex-servicemen to historians and enthusiasts and researchers all with a keen shared interest.
Kind regards
https://www.facebook.com/groups/southafricansinww1ww2korea/