Sarel Jacobus van der Walt, veterinarian, was the son of Sarel Jacobus van der Walt and his wife Maria Petronells, born Ross. He qualified as a veterinarian (BVSc) in December 1936 at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort and then joined the Section Toxicology of the Veterinary Research Institute as a research toxicologist. In 1943 he obtained a DVSc degree, also at the University of Pretoria. His research focused mainly on the toxicity of various plants and was carried out partly in collaboration with D.G. Steyn*. From 1939 to 1946 Van der Walt published a series of seven papers under the title "Recent investigations into the known and unknown poisonous plants of South Africa" in the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science, continuing a series that had been started by Steyn in 1929. However, he also authored or co-authored some anatomical publications. In 1945 he ended his research career for unknown reasons and transferred to the Division of Veterinary (Field) Services as state veterinarian in Lydenburg. The next year he transferred to Pretoria in the same capacity. He held this post until his death in 1949.

Van der Walt was married to Leona Louisa Rens, but they were divorced in 1947. He was survived by a son and a daughter.

List of sources:

Author and Subject Index to the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Science and Animal Industry (1933-1950) and the Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research (1951-1968). Pretoria: Department of Agriculture, June 1969.

Bigalke, R.D. Veterinary education in South Africa: The classes of 1936 and 1937. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 2010, Vol. 81(1). Retrieved on 17 March 2021 from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1019-91282010000100001

Bullock, A.A. Bibliography of South African botany (up to 1951). Pretoria: Department of Agricultural Technical Services, 1978.

National Archives, Pretoria. Source MHG, Volume 0, reference 2934/49 (death notice).

Posthumus, P.J. Past veterinarians in South Africa (10th edition), Vol. 2, [1992].

Compiled by: D.W. Verwoerd

Last updated: 2026-02-04 11:28:46