J. J. Venter's Grave in Kopanong Rural, Free State

Jacobus Johannes (Koos) Venter (1814-1889), was a politician and statesman who settled on the farm Broekpoort.  

He was a member of the Volksraad of the Orange Free State, Chairman of the Joint Commission for Administering the Government in 1855 and served as Acting State President in 1859–1860 and again in 1863–1864.

 His remains lie buried at Elim, a portion of Broekpoort. 

Remnants of his residence are still seen today on the farm. He was involved in the establishment of the first Reformed Church in the Orange Free State at Reddersburg and he also helped with the founding of the Gereformeerde Kerk (Reformed Church) in Bethulie.

Four towns in South Africa were named after the Venter clan:

• Ventersdorp
• Venterstad
• Venterspos
• Ventershoop