Few camps can have had as miserable a start as Standerton. The camp was probably begun about December 1900. Before it was handed over to the civilian administration in February 1901, the local district commissioner had put Mr van Musschenbroek in charge but the camp was left to run itself. There were no records of arrivals or departures as families poured in, while some were deported to Natal or transferred to other camps. A small camp which had been started at Platrand was also amalgamated with Standerton, although a black camp remained there. These movements took place in the bucketing rain in which the local black pot clay dissolved into a "deep thick glutinous mud". General Superintended Goodwin reported in February 1901 that the condition of the people was "pitiable in the extreme". To add to the woes, Dr. Leslie, who had been sent from Cape Town, took one look at the camp and refused to take up his duties, causing "considerable inconvenience".