Founded in Cape Town on the 13 April 1943, the South African Fancy Pigeon Association has grown into a large organisation which today consists of 10 different areas and 20 specialists clubs reaching to all the corners of South Africa and has a diverse history of over 74 years.
The keep of Fancy Pigeons is a peaceful and enjoyable culture which encourages fellowship and a passion for any members of society, and has become a family sport throughout South Africa.
In the early 1940’s, the so-called important and well-known pigeon fanciers felt the necessity of establishing a country wide organisation to handle the ”problems in solving the differences between the various fanciers and to obtain show pens for pigeon shows as was the case in overseas countries.” On the morning (08:30) of 13 April 1943, 11 fanciers held a meeting in Hof Street, Cape Town “with the object of forming a country wide Fancy Pigeon Club.” This is how the South African Fancy Pigeon Club, with its headquarters in Cape Town, was inaugurated, and it was only in the 1980’s that the name changed from “Club” to “Association”.”
In September 1943, the S.A. Fancy Pigeon Club spread its wings from Cape Town to various parts of the country and the end of the year more than 100 members had enrolled, but not without problems. The very strong Fantail Club refused to join the SAFPC and a meeting was called to “iron out the negative feelings between the Fantail Club and the SAFPC.” Everything went well at this meeting. The two groups decided that it would be better to join forces and also decided to “create areas (currently Regions) in every part of the then Union of South Africa.” The first membership fees were fixed at 3 shillings per year until they were “regretfully” raised to 3 shillings and sixpence in 1948.
Shows in various areas started to gain momentum all over South Africa, but it was only in 1946 that the first National Championship Show was held in East London to decide on the Grand Champion Fancy Pigeon. The late Mr. AW (Willie) Roos of Pietersburg, who at times kept more than 1 000 fancy pigeons of 60 different breeds, was the first recipient of this award.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Sierduif Vereniging, wat op 13 April 1943 in Kaapstad gestig is, het gegroei tot 'n groot organisasie wat vandag bestaan uit 10 verskillende gebiede en 20 spesialiteitsklubs wat al die hoeke van Suid-Afrika bereik en 'n uiteenlopende geskiedenis van meer as 74 jaar het.
Die aanhou van Sierduiwe is 'n vreedsame en genotvolle kultuur wat gemeenskap en passie vir enige lede van die samelewing aanmoedig en 'n familiesport in Suid-Afrika geword het.
In die vroeë 1940's het die sogenaamde belangrike en bekende duiweliefhebbers die noodsaaklikheid gekry om 'n landwye organisasie op te rig om die probleme tussen die verskillende liefhebbers te hanteer en om skou hokke te bekom, soos die geval was in oorsese lande. "Op die oggend (08:30) van 13 April 1943 het 11 liefhebbers 'n vergadering in Hofstraat, Kaapstad gehou," met die doel om 'n landwye Sierduifklub te vorm. "Dit is hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse Sierduifklub, met sy hoofkwartier in Kaapstad begin het, en dit was eers in die 1980's dat die naam van "Klub" na "Vereniging" verander het.
In September 1943 het die S.A. Sierduifklub sy vlerke uit Kaapstad versprei na verskillende dele van die land en die einde van die jaar het meer as 100 lede ingeskryf, maar nie sonder probleme nie. Die baie sterk Fantail Klub het geweier om by die SASK aan te sluit en 'n vergadering is geroep om die negatiewe gevoelens tussen die Fantail Klub en die SASK uit te stryk. Alles het goed gegaan tydens die vergadering. Die twee groepe het besluit dat dit beter sou wees om saam te werk en het ook besluit om "gebiede (tans streeks) in elke deel van die destydse Unie van Suid-Afrika te skep." Die eerste ledegeld is vasgestel op 3 sjielings per jaar totdat hulle tot hul spyt gedwonge was om dit te verhoog na 3 sjielings en sespennies in 1948.
Skoue op verskeie gebiede het momentum regoor Suid-Afrika begin kry, maar eers in 1946 het die eerste Nasionale Kampioenskapskou in Oos-Londen gehou om te besluit oor die Groot Kampioen Sierduif. Die wyle mnr. AW (Willie) Roos van Pietersburg, wat soms meer as 1 000 lui duiwe van 60 verskillende rasse gehad het, was die eerste ontvanger van hierdie toekenning.
Presently, SAFPA have 10 different regions, as well as Namibia, each with their own Regional Committee, the Regional President of each region being the regional representative of the region on the central body, namely the Executive Committee of SAFPA. Each region is responsible for a certain area in the country and must raise their own funds, hold their own Regional Shows, Regional AGM’s and build their own show pens, etc. They must, however, act within the Constitution and Bylaws formulated the AGM of all SAFPA members. This AGM takes place during the Championship Show. Some 22 clubs for specific breeds like Modenas, Jacobins, Blowers, Heavy Breeds, Tumblers etc. all fall under the main body. A region or club cannot just decide to hold a Championship show. This privilege is reserved for the Executive Committee who award the Championship Show to a specific region each year.
Tans het SASV 10 verskillende streke, asook Namibië, elk met hul eie streekskomitee. Die streekpresident van elke streek is die streeksverteenwoordiger van die streek op die sentrale liggaam, naamlik die Uitvoerende Komitee van SASV. Elke streek is verantwoordelik vir 'n sekere gebied in die land en moet hul eie fondse opwek, hul eie Streeksskoue, Streeksvergaderings hou en hul eie skouhokkies bou. Hulle moet egter binne die Grondwet optree en die Bylae stel die AJV van alle SASV lede. Hierdie algemene jaarvergadering vind plaas tydens die Kampioenskapskou. Sowat 22 klubs vir spesifieke rasse soos Modenas, Jacobyne, Blaasduiwe, Swaar Ras, Tumblers ens. val almal onder die hoofliggaam. 'N Streek of klub kan nie net besluit om 'n Kampioenskapskou te hou nie. Hierdie voorreg word gereserveer vir die Uitvoerende Komitee wat elke jaar die Kampioenskapskou aan 'n spesifieke streek toeken.
The Central Body, namely the Executive Committee, consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Ring Master, Editor, Judges Representative and a Youth Forum Representative, as well as the 10 Regional Presidents. They are responsible for drawing up and making the necessary changes to the Constitution, Bylaws and rules, Show Schedules and Pigeon Standards. Their duties also include the buying and issuing of rings, publication of the magazine and disciplinary matters, to name but a few.
Die Sentrale Liggaam, naamlik die Uitvoerende Komitee, bestaan uit die President, Vise-President, Sekretaris, Tesourier, Ringmeester, Redakteur, Beoordeellaarsbeampte en 'n Jeugforum verteenwoordiger, sowel as die 10 Streekspresidente. Hulle is verantwoordelik vir die opstel en maak van die nodige wysigings aan die Grondwet, verordeninge en reëls, skedules en duifstandaarde. Hul pligte sluit ook die aankoop en uitreiking van ringe, publikasie van die tydskrif en dissiplinêre sake in, om maar 'n paar te noem.
It is believed that the hobof breeding Fancy pigeons was established in South Africa during or just after the 1899-1903 War, when British soldiers introduced Fancy pigeons to our country. Undoubtedly, there were some fancy breeds in South Africa prior to this but there are no authentic records regarding them. The earliest South African Magazine to include pigeons, namely “The South African Poultry, Pigeon & Bird Magazine” also concerned birds, rabbits and poultry and was established in 1911. This magazine was “The Recognised Organ of the Poultry Industry, Pigeon & Rabbit Fancy throughout the Southern half of the African Continent.” It was published in Bloemfontein until the late 1960’s when regretfully, the doors closed.
Daar word geglo dat die hok van Sierduiwe in Suid-Afrika gedurende of net ná die 1899-1903-oorlog gevestig is, toe Britse soldate Sierduiwe na ons land ingebring het. Daar was ongetwyfeld 'n paar sierduifrasse in Suid-Afrika voor, maar daar is geen outentieke rekords oor hulle nie. Die vroegste Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif om duiwe in te sluit, naamlik "Die Suid-Afrikaanse Pluimvee, Duif- en Voëltydskrif", het ook betrekking gehad op voëls, konyne en pluimvee en is in 1911 gestig. Hierdie tydskrif was "The Recognized Organ of the Poultry Industry, Pigeon & Rabbit Fancy dwarsdeur die suidelike helfte van die Afrika-vasteland. "Dit is tot in die laat 1960's in Bloemfontein gepubliseer toe die deure gesluit is.
Since the publication of “The South African Poultry, Pigeon & Bird Magazine” (hereafter referred to as PPBM), news of the various breeds of fancy pigeons that were imported from a number of countries and kept in South Africa, became known to us. Due to this, it is possible to put together some sort of history on the development of the Fancy Pigeon hoband the clubs that were formed to improve certain breeds. The first fancy breeds imported to South Africa that we know of (since 1911), were Fantails, Dragoons, Carriers, Magpies, a variety of Blowers, Tumblers and a few others – “to improve the existing fancy pigeon breeds that were kept people in various towns.” Some fragmentary pigeon clubs were formed in parts of South Africa, but served no real purpose due to the vast distances and rudimentary means of communication that existed in the first part of the last century.
Fancy Pigeon Shows, although small in size, started in the 1920’s and became family outings. These shows were held in conjunction with various Agricultural Association shows in small towns. Exhibitions were held in halls or under shelters together with rabbits, poultry, wild birds and various other hobbies. One judge, usually a poultry or pigeon fancier, was invited and given the dubious honour of judging everything on show! He was always treated with the greatest respect and could do no wrong in the eyes of any exhibitor. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, new breeds of fancy pigeon were imported from England and Holland in particular.
Clubs for the Dragoon, Fantail, Blower and other fancy pigeons formed on a steady basis and news columns started to appear more regularly in the PPBM. The first arguments between pigeon fanciers on the interpretation of pigeon standards, at that time all received from overseas, also appeared in the PPBM.
Sedert die publikasie van "Die Suid-Afrikaanse Pluimvee-, Duif- en Voëltydskrif" (hierna verwys as PPBM), het die nuus van die verskillende rasse van sierduiwe wat van 'n aantal lande ingevoer en in Suid-Afrika gehou is, bekend geword. As gevolg hiervan is dit moontlik om 'n soort geskiedenis op te stel oor die ontwikkeling van die Sierduif stokperdjie, die klubs wat gevorm is om sekere rasse te verbeter. Die eerste rasse wat na Suid-Afrika ingevoer is, is Fantails, Dragoons, Carriers, Magpies, 'n verskeidenheid Blaasduiwe, Tumblers en 'n paar ander - "om die bestaande sierduifrasse te verbeter wat mense aangehou het in verskillende dorpe. " Sommige fragmentêre duifklubs is in dele van Suid-Afrika gevorm, maar het geen werklike doel gedien as gevolg van die groot afstande en rudimentêre kommunikasiemiddele wat in die eerste deel van die vorige eeu bestaan het nie. Sierduif skoue, hoewel klein in grootte, het in die 1920's begin en gesinsuitstappies geword. Hierdie vertonings is gehou in samewerking met verskeie Landbouvereniging vertonings in klein dorpe. Uitstallings is gehou in sale of onder skuilings saam met konyne, pluimvee, wilde voëls en verskeie ander stokperdjies. Een beoordeellaar, gewoonlik 'n pluimvee of duiwe liefhebber, is genooi en het die twyfelagtige eer gegee om alles op die skou te oordeel! Hy is altyd met die grootste respek behandel en kan nie verkeerd doen in die oë van enige uitstaller nie. Gedurende die 1920's en 1930's is nuwe rasse van luukse duiwe veral uit Engeland en Holland ingevoer.
Klubs vir die Dragoon, Fantail, Blaasduiwe en ander Sierduiwe het op 'n bestendige basis gevorm en nuuskolomme het meer gereeld in die PPBM verskyn. Die eerste argumente tussen duiwe-liefhebbers oor die interpretasie van duiwe standaarde, destyds almal van oorsee ontvang, verskyn ook in die PPBM