Merensky Timber

Merensky is part of the HMH Group, which was founded in 1949 by Dr Hans Merensky. Born in Botshabelo in 1871, Dr Hans Merensky became a legend in his time - a world-famous prospector and geologist, humanitarian, devotee of nature, afforestation and agriculture and a visionary. In a brilliant career of close on 50 years of active field work, Dr Merensky achieved an international reputation as an outstanding analytical geologist. His major discoveries of platinum, diamonds, chrome, gold and phosphate ores will long be remembered, and his conservation work left a legacy for today's generations to appreciate. By establishing a Trust in 1949, Dr Merensky hoped to combine the two things dearest to him: first, the assured perpetuation of his work on Westfalia Estate's agricultural, horticultural and forestry resources, so that the great strides he had made with water and soil conservation, the reclaiming and revitalisation of the soil, and the welfare of his staff, could be continued. Second, South Africans had to benefit from the activities of the Trust, which in 1973 became the Hans Merensky Foundation. The Foundation provides bursaries for the education and training of students, and grants and loans to individuals or institutions to carry out research in fields including forestry and agriculture. This is the heart of the Foundation - an instruction that the Trustees have carried out since inception. Dr Merensky died in October 1952.