(untitled) (Historia, 2021)
The controversial role of Jac Pienaar in the Rebellion of 1914-1915 J.J. (Jac) Pienaar was one of the lesser known leaders of the rebellion. However, behind the scenes he played a significant role both in the planning phase and in the actual rebellion itself. He was the only rebel general to plead guilty on all five counts of high treason. This study shows that he was also the only rebel leader to cooperate with Prof Leo Fouché, author of the Blue Book (UG 10-'15) on the rebellion. This he never admitted. In fact, his written statement to Fouché casts the first light on the planned uprising of 15 September 1914 while the relevant chapter of the Blue Book is based largely on Pienaar's declaration. Unlike for example Sarel Alberts and General C.F. Beyers, Pienaar was a convinced rebel. This article attempts to determine the motives for his somewhat controversial actions. J.J. (Jac) Pienaar is een van die minder bekende rebelleleiers. Tog het hy agter die skerms 'n betekenisvolle rol in die beplanningsfase en in die opstand self gespeel. Voorts was hy die enigste rebellegeneraal wat op al vyf aanklagte van hoogverraad skuldig gepleit het. Uit dié studie blyk dit ook dat hy die enigste rebelleleier was wat met prof Leo Fouché, skrywer van die Blouboek (UG 10-'15) oor die Rebellie, saamgewerk het - iets wat Pienaar nooit erken het nie. Trouens, sy verklaring aan Fouché werp die eerste lig op die beplande opstand van 15 September 1914 en die betrokke hoofstuk in die Blouboek is grootliks op die Pienaar-verklaring gebaseer. Pienaar was, anders as byvoorbeeld Sarel Alberts en generaal C.F. Beyers, 'n oortuigde rebel. Hierdie artikel poog om die motiewe vir sy enigsins omstrede optrede te bepaal.