It all began on 5 July 1825, Frederick Salomon Opperman and his 4 daughters were sold at a slave auction in Graaff-Reinet. His wife and his son were not sold on that day and they stayed behind. The slave owner initially allowed Frederik to visit his family from time to time; a journey that involved a 12-hour ride on horseback. However, when his family later had to move away from Graaff-Reinet he was refused permission to visit them. Frederik escaped and was recaptured and beaten on, at least, three occasions before he finally managed to flee for good and settle near the Riet River.