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Johan Pottas 1Johan Pottas 2022
Johan Jacob POTTAS was born in the Elizabeth Heim, Windhoek, Namibia on 13 April 1961 and one of 5 children of the late Johan Jacob POTTAS (Skerf) and Elizabeth Mathilde POTGIETER (Lilli) from Windhoek. He is one of four surviving children and the only surviving son, an older brother died as a baby. He goes to school in Eros Primary School, Windhoek and Windhoek High School. Is head boy in primary school and student council member in high school, acquires SWAAIKS colors in athletics, gymnastics and played hockey for school's first team.
After school he does military service. He studied at the University of the Free State obtained BComm and BComm (Hons) (Capital investment). Articled for 2 years as auditor clerk, works as a professional photographer for 2 years, works at Pick n Pay as a perishable food manager for 8 years and then for the University of the Free State in various capacities.
He was married in the KOVSIE NGK, Bloemfontein on 21 September 1985 to Eureka Dannhauser SMITH born in the nursing clinic in Edenburg, Free State on 26 February 1961, daughter of the late Gert Hendrik Dannhauser SMITH and Maria Elizabeth BOTHA (Mary). She grew up in Trompsburg, Free State, studying at the University of the Free State.
His interest in genealogy has come a long way, as a child was the one who constantly wanted to hear the family stories over and over. In 1997 he started researching the Pottas family on his own and joined the Genealogical Society of South Africa in 2000. Earnest interest started in 2001, when he realized, the generation before him was dying and with them all the amazing stories and information. By 2003 he had sorted out the POTTAS line and then his trouble started with his other ancestors. One thing led to next and today he actively doing research on more than 80 different surnames in their entirety. In 2003 Simon DUPLOOY and Hendrik LOUW convinced him to attend the AGM in Port Elizabeth and there the two of them and Johann JANSE VAN RENSBURG to re-establish the Free State branch.
He was elected chairman of the branch in 2003, a position he would fill until September 2013. Hereafter he was no longer involved on the branch committee but remained an active member. During the time as chairman, he was also involved with Hendrik LOUW in the making and compilation of a number of GSSA's Omnibus CDs. His first genealogical publication was “Die Van den (r) Berg's van die Kaap tot Witkraal, Petrusburg” in 2005 which he compile for a  friend Cas VAN DER BERG. His own family register appeared thereafter, written for his dad Skerf POTTAS's 80th birthday “Die Pottas skerwe vanaf Schwalenberg tot Windhoek” 2006. After that the “Van den (r) Berg (h) families of Southern Africa” 2008 and also “Alexander's SA” 2011. He am also involved as a co-author in the “BEKKER register ”compiled by Ann TIRAN and himself.
There are also numerous smaller families that he research and that appeared in the GGSA's Omnibuses.
Furthermore, he was also the author of the Free State GGSA's publication Maiores from 2003 to 2010, after which he did not see chance to continue with it.
Families he is still working on: VAN DEN (R) BERG (H), KLOPPER, POTTAS, MENTZ, parts of BEKKER, SMIT, POTGIETER, OOSTHUIZEN, DANNHAUSER, all the descendants of Elizabeth VOOGD the daughter of Claus VOIGT (a German ) and Christina ('KhoiSan woman) and many more. Then there is also the Free State progenitor project that he was busy with, i.e. all the men and women who entered the Free State during the period 1820 to 31 May 1902 and had already settled here.