Johannes Cornelius Jacobus ‘Hans’ Lötter, who was born on 15 January 1875, was a Boer commander during the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902. Along with Gideon Scheepers, Lötter was one of the most brutal guerrilla commandos in the Cape Colony.
Lötter’s Boer Commando earned a reputation for being brutal and undisciplined. He, together with many other Boer commandants, warned local Boers of harsh treatment if they did not support the forces of the Boers fighting against the British.
A British column was tasked with tracking down Lötter, which they did by surprising him near Cradock. Here he was captured together with a number of his men. He was taken to Graaff-Reinet to stand trial, and was charged with treason, amongst other crimes.
The trial was straightforward – Lötter was a citizen of the British-controlled Cape Colony, and therefore a rebel. He was executed on 15 October 1901.
