Nicolaas Pieter Johannes “Siener” van Rensburg (August 30, 1862
– March 11, 1926) was a Boer from the South African Republic
-also known as the Transvaal Republic- and later a citizen of
South Africa who is seen by some as a prophet of the Boere (or
Afrikaners). Therefore his nickname soon became Siener, which is
Afrikaans for “seer” or “soothsayer”. His seemingly accurate
predictions of future events were typically wrapped in religious
patriotism. The nature of his visions invariably concerned the
welfare of the Boere and Germany and were experienced by him as
visual imagery to be interpreted afterwards. When the image of
the Sisal plant occurred in his visions, he for instance
interpreted this as a portend of an important meeting, assembly
or parliament. He is believed by some to have made many accurate
predictions of local events, including foretelling the death of
Koos de la Rey, a general in the Second Boer War, and the
political transition of South Africa after his own death. At
times his visions also c