Great-granddaughters of Jotello F Soga visit Onderstepoort's Veterinary Library

On Sunday morning, February 12, 2023, the Jotello F Soga Library at Onderstepoort had the honor of welcoming special guests: the great-granddaughters of Jotello Festiri Soga. JF Soga, the first South African to qualify as a veterinary surgeon, graduated from The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in Edinburgh in 1886 and later returned to South Africa.

Jean Duncan and Pat Thomson, two sisters from Edinburgh, Scotland, were visiting South Africa while Jean was umpiring at the World Indoor Hockey Championship. They spent an insightful morning with Marguerite Nel, Modisa Khosi, Amelia Breytenbach, and Myleen Oosthuizen, exchanging information about their great-grandfather. Jean and Pat were presented with a pamphlet detailing the career history of their great-grandfather, as well as a special internally crafted Department of Library Services booklet. Marguerite gave them a tour of the library, and Amelia shared with them the Veterinary subject guides, which contained the Veterinary history of South Africa and information about Jotello Soga. The sisters kindly shared family photos, granting permission for them to be uploaded to UPSpace. Photographs were also taken with them at the bust of Jotello F Soga. It was a delightful morning, and Jean and Pat expressed their gratitude to the Veterinary Library for making the visit possible.