[2][3][4] Sarel was the eldest of seven children of Sarel Petrus Johannes du Toit (Beaufort West, Cape Province, 14 May 1839 – Potchefstroom, Southern DC, NW, 10 November 1929)[5] and Lydia Magdalena Cordier (Kaap de Goede Hoop, 1843 – Potchefstroom, Transvaal, 9 November 1888).

[6] He married Louisa Hosea Jordaan (Orange Free State, around 22 December 1865 – Enkeldoorn (Chivhu), Southern Rhodesia, 27 March 1934),[7] and had four daughters and four sons by her.

[11] Naas Ferreira and Du Toit agreed to the proposal of the French volunteer general George de Villebois-Mareuil to storm Kimberley, but this plan was not realised.

When the cavalry of British major-general French finally arrived at Kimberley, the Free State military fled and Du Toit had to retreat rescuing the cannon.

Du Toit commanded generals Andries Petrus Johannes Cronjé, Jan Celliers, Potgieter, Piet Liebenberg of Griqualand and Sarel Oosthuizen of Krugersdorp at the Battle of Veertien Strome (Veertienstromen, 3–5 May 1900 near Warrenton).