Charles Edward Legat

Charles Edward Legat CBE (16 January 1876[1] – 10 October 1966)[2] was the Scottish-born Chief Conservator of Forests in South Africa from 1913 to 1931.

He came to South Africa in 1898 and took up an appointment with the Cape Forestry Department, was transferred to the Transvaal in 1902, and promoted to Conservator of Forests in 1904.

In 1913 he succeeded Joseph Storr Lister as Chief Conservator and immediately set about seeking a solution to the woodcutter problems in the Southern Cape forests.

The onset of World War I delayed implementation of the scheme, but in 1916 it was revived and two settlements were proposed – one at French Hoek just outside Franschhoek and the other at Jonkersberg north of Great Brak River.

The workers were to be provided with a house on a small plot of land, free medical care and paid a wage, while soldiers returning from World War I, many of whom were classed as poor whites, also prompted the launching of the program.