Ernst Lodewikus du Plessis

Ernst du Plessis was born in the Tulbagh district in 1863, later moved to the Bethlehem-Fouriesburg district and was a near neighbour of Tom Moodie for 7 years. He worked as a transport rider and had travelled as far as Tuli with his transport wagons so already had a knowledge of the area when plans were drawn up for the Moodie Trek. "Our motive," declared Ernst du Plessis, "was to get enough land once and for all - land on which one could make a decent living without debt." Ernst joined up with the Moodie party at Lindley on 8 May 1892. The Moodie trek ended when they reached Waterfalls farm on 4th January 1893. Ernst du Plessis, the dependable second-in-command of the trek, chose Clearwater for his farm.

After pegging his farm Clearwater he returned to the Free State to fetch his own Trek, along with "cattle, horses and other implements" which he had left behind. Others joined him and he returned to Gazaland with a small group, including his brother.

Once everybody was settled he returned again to the Free State to collect his bride, having been the first to build a house of burnt brick as he did not want to bring his bride to a pole and dagga hut. This time he travelled by foot to Chimora and Beira to travel by boat to Durban. He spent the rainy months in Natal and the Free State, telling many people about his wonderful new home. When the weather settled he married Magdalena Maritz (descendant of the Great Trek leader), collected his other wagon, and made a third journey to Gazaland, accompanied by another five families and two young men.

He lived on his farm Clearwater until his death in 1953.