Soil Science Society of Southern Africa

HISTORY OF THE SSSSA

	HISTORY OF THE SSSSA
	The Soil Science Society of South Africa was founded on the 27th of April 1953 in Pretoria. The founder members were: Dr C R van der Merwe, Prof. J J Theron, Prof. E R Orchard, Prof. W J Lütjharms, Dr J van Garderen, Dr C P Naudé, Miss I Sichel, Mr A V Betts, Mr P v/d M Bruwer, Mr G M Ferreira, Mr P A Louw, Mr H Klintworth, Mr G Murray, Mr M S Steyn, Mr F J Rosenstrauch and Mr D J R van Dyk. Miss Sichel, who passed away in Pretoria in 2002, was the last surviving SSSSA founder member. Dr van der Merwe was elected as the first President of the Society. The full list of SSSSA Presidents is:
	SSSSA Presidents
	1953-58 Dr C R van der Merwe 1958-63 Prof. J J Theron 1963-65 Prof. W J Fölscher 1965-70 Dr J van Garderen 1970-73 Prof. E R Orchard 1973-75 Prof. A A Theron 1975-78 Dr M C F du Plessis 1978-81 Prof. J M de Villiers 1981-83 Prof. R du T Burger 1983-84 Dr C N MacVicar 1984-86 Prof. R O Barnard 1986-87 Prof. A T P Bennie	1987-89 Prof. M C Laker 1989-90 Dr D M Scotney 1990-92 Mr J J N Lambrechts 1992-94 Dr A J van der Merwe 1994-96 Mr H M du Plessis 1996-98 Prof. J H Moolman 1998-99 Prof. C C du Preez 1999-2001 Dr J J Bornman 2001-03 Prof. L van Huyssteen 2003-05 Dr J F Eloff 2005-2007 Mr D G Paterson 2007-09 Dr J E Hoffman President-elect (2009-) Dr C W van Huyssteen
	The Secretaries of the SSSSA have been:
	1953-54 Mr F J Rosenstrauch 1955-66 Mr G Murray 1967-73 Mr J van Woerkom 1974-75 Mr J J N Lambrechts 1975-77 Dr P F Fuls	1978-79 Dr E Verster 1979-81 Prof. R O Barnard 1981-82 Dr R W Fitzpatrick 1983- Mr T E Dohse
	Congresses hosted (or co-hosted) by the SSSSA
	1st : July 1965 Pretoria 2^nd : July 1967 Pietermaritzburg 3^rd : April 1970 Bloemfontein 4^th : April 1971 Stellenbosch 5^th : Feb. 1973 Salisbury (now Harare) 6^th : July 1975 Blyde River 7^th : January 1977 Pretoria 8^th : July 1978 Pietermaritzburg (Silver Jubilee Congress) 9^th : January 1980 Durban 10^th : July 1981 East London 11^th : January 1983 Stellenbosch 12^th : July 1984 Bloemfontein 13^th : January 1986 Pretoria 14^th : July 1987 Nelspruit	15^th : January 1989 Wild Coast 16^th : July 1990 Pretoria 17^th : January 1992 Stellenbosch 18^th : January 1994 Potchefstroom 19^th : January 1995 Stellenbosch 20^th : July 1996 Bloemfontein 21^st : January 1998 Drakensberg 22^nd : June 1999 Pretoria 23^rd : Jan.2001 Pretoria (25^th Anniversary of 1^st Congress) 24^th : Jan. 2003 Stellenbosch (Golden Jubilee Congress) 25^th : January 2005 Potchefstroom 26^th : January 2006 Durban 27^th : January 2007 Badplaas 28^th : January 2008 Grahamstown
	The SSSSA has a number of Honorary Members
	Dr MCF du Plessis Prof. WJ Fölscher Dr JG Thompson Prof. HJ von M Harmse Mr JJN Lambrechts	Dr CN MacVicar Dr DM Scotney Prof. H v H van der Watt Dr M Hensley
	Prof AA Theron, Prof JM de Villiers, Dr RF Loxton and Prof. ER Orchard (now deceased) were also honorary members.