CULTURAL
TOURS
CULTURAL TOUR TO ONVERWACHT |
An
account of the day: By Wolfgang
Wiesner
Sunday morning I wake up yawning and drive, to spend the day
at Onverwacht situated north east of Cullinan,sort-of, and
meet up with Kwalata Team Adventures, a culture tour run by
Charl Pretorius. Onverwacht forms part of the Gauteng Land
Reform Tourism Route, is being developed by Khulile Africa,
funded by Gauteng Tourism Authority and involves claimants
- descendants from freed Malay slaves who arrived with the
Malan "na-trek" in 1857. They intermarried mainly
Pedi people, who now call themselves Black Afrikaners and
consider their land "bloedgrond" given them by President
Paul Kruger for their assistance during the Anglo Boer Wars.
Anyway we are going to spend the day enjoying a church service,
tea, cakes, lunch and donkey rides and meet a host of interesting
people and share their dreams about future plans for an eco
and heritage destination.
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I arrive at 9.30 and meet Charl and his wife Astrid. It's
a pleasantly warm morning as guests and regular church goers
slowing trickle into the church grounds. We exchange greetings
and stand around chatting about this and that. A row of fancy
cars parked in a row look somewhat out of character in this
area.
The church bell rings and we enter the Verenigde Gereformeerde
Kerk of Onverwacht. We sing hymns until Dominee Hein Holder
enter through a back door and the sermon begins. It's all
about not being a "poer-poer" Christian - so lets
get out there and spread the word. Work for the Lord!
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The Cemetery proves to be quite an interesting place. Most
of its inhabitants have lived way into their sixties and beyond.
The record holder is 124 years. (Compared to the graves at
Pilgrims Rest, most never made it past thirty. Forty was good
going!) Stress does some how appear to play a minor role in
the greater scheme of things!
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Next we visit Oom Jan at his home, one of the oldest buildings
in the settlement. He says he is "baie" oud - he
has definitely lived a stress free life, at least that is
what it looks like from the outside.
We gather around him like an eager bunch of school children
at story time and ask questions and listen carefully to the
old man. He says that they, the Black Afrikaners, for supporting
the Boers, were promised land if they won the war against
the British. But of course the Boers lost and they had to
buy the land at a giveaway price of R36, or should that have
been pounds in those days?
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They
were all given 36 morgan of land, a narrow strip stretching
all the way down to the river. (See photo of Oom Jan's back
yard below.)
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Then off to the next location, Leon's place were we have tea
and coffee and other refreshments. We sit outside drinking
tea and eating vetkoek and lekker panekoek while a medley
of contemporary, to Italian, Spanish and Turkish music blares
from a lonely speaker outside the front door.
The house - HOME is a more appropriate word, is simple but
with mega character, ideal location for a film shoot. It really
is a HOME!
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Next
we make our way to Patricia's for lunch. On the way I take
photographs of people and their homes. It's such a laid back,
relaxed peaceful Sunday morning with beautiful people and
beautiful surroundings.
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Patricia
has outdone herself - hot curry chicken, various salads,
rice and potatoes followed by desert of jelly and custard.
I just love the flower arrangements next to the house and
on the table. Some, I hope not hungry, onlookers check out
this unusual scene of a group of whities dining at Patricia's.
I think they are going to get used to this sight in the
future.
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What
a wonderful day spent with wonderful people. God bless you
all!
For Tour information contact: Charl 083 459 9075; Patricia
082 577 4694 Leon 073 241 5678 for bookings.
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