CULTURAL
TOURS
CULTURAL TOUR TO ONVERWACHT |
An
account of the day:
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!
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