Please check your email and enter your one time pin below:   Open in Gmail Sorry there was an error loading the audio Welcome to one of the quietest villages in the Karoo: Rietbron If you’re an adrenalin junkie, a wild adventurist, someone who can’t sit still for a second or a person who needs a thrill a minute to survive, then you should bypass Rietbron.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads It lies somewhere on a 150km detour between Beaufort West and Willowmore crossing the Amos River and the Muiskraal River Read more: A traveller’s leisurely guide from Rietbron to Willowmore But Rietbron does not specialise in flowing rivers or mountain ridges in the distance Most people think of the Karoo as a flat plate of geography floating in the belly of South Africa You’ll always see rocky bumps on the horizon where the horizon is only occasionally broken by the perky ears of a hee-hawing donkey straying into your field of vision You have to want to visit Rietbron to get there Pretoria and Cape Town come here and fall in love with the space which are renovated by a talented and enterprising builder-engineer local farmers between Beaufort West and Willowmore built themselves a church and box-like Nagmaal houses here Which is how most of the settlements in the Karoo began Way back in 1947, long before she became Queen, the young Princess Elizabeth stopped off at Klipplaat when the Royal Family were on their grand railroad tour of South Africa.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Read more: Exploring the ominous tunnel, the train, the Poor School and padstal discoveries During South Africa’s golden century of rail travel At one stage you could hardly move for all the comings and goings of the old steam behemoths heading for Cape Town This was of great benefit to the local mohair and wool farmers wanting to ship their products to market there was a minor ostrich boom in the area for a while and the rail system helped that business along too quartermasters and mountains of military gear Not far away lurked the mounted Boer units waiting to disrupt this rail traffic in any way they could that the supplies on the trains included a case or two of Scotch whisky The desolate loco outside Klipplaat – memories of yesteryear In 1979, the locomotives were phased out in favour of diesel and the little village went into decline. Today, there’s a rusty loco standing outside Klipplaat as a memorial to better days. Bikers and overlanders enjoying the wide landscapes of the Karoo often stop here and pose for photographs with the old train in the background.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Jansenville, on the southern reaches of the Karoo Heartland, is brimming over with angora goats, mohair and country legends.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads A local woman once had her garden gnome stolen from her farm stall and pleaded publicly for its return so much publicity had been generated that the woman received many The beautifully kept Jansenville Mother Church South Africa’s first mohair museum is in Jansenville part of a Mohair Meander which includes Beaufort West When Michelle Obama wore a designer cardigan made of mohair from a Karoo farm in the Camdeboo district the news item made fashion headlines around the world Movie stars and talk show hosts gushed over mohair which now has the cachet of cashmere and silk Read more: Mohair – a fibre named desire With more than 668,000 angora goats, South Africa produces an annual clip of nearly 2.3 million kilograms – around half the world’s mohair. The vast majority of that comes from the Eastern Cape Karoo – and Jansenville is the country capital of mohair.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Most of this sumptuous fibre goes to the textile weavers and fashion houses of Italy, but a fair amount stays at home and is transformed into blankets, carpets, scarves and some of the finest socks ever to grace a human foot. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Before the beautiful Dutch Reformed Church building went up in the Eastern Cape village of Pearston faithful worshippers would gather under the pear tree on Rustenburg A dominee (preacher) would ride across from Somerset East and do the honours This may have been fun during the spring months of September and October and again in the autumn months of April and May But during high summer when ripe pears bombed down without warning But was it so significant that the settlement was later called Pearston The village was in fact named after one John Pears a dedicated English teacher who later preached in the Dutch Reformed Church and dedicated much of his life to the local community Pearston’s DR Church replaced the nearby pear tree as a centre of local worship Of all the farms in the Karoo, Cranemere must be among the best known. Set not far from Pearston on the Graaff-Reinet road, Eve Palmer describes it lovingly in her evocative classic, The Plains of Camdeboo.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads This was also the first farm in the area to be permanently inhabited thanks to a fresh and cheerful spring discovered by Gerrit Lodewyk Coetzee He dammed the spring and created a lake in the desert precisely the reason George Palmer bought the land from him in 1880 you’ll see the most imposing building is the Dutch Reformed Mother Church It’s generally a Victorian-era masterpiece that looms over the rest of town like a spiritual guardian And that’s why most Karoo towns came into being Farmers in the area needed somewhere to pray and socialise so they had churches built and congregations formed around them And the dominee normally had the best house in town An Englishman called William Moore had a farm here at the northern entrance to the magical Baviaans Wilderness Farmers from all over the district used to gather here and play tennis It was such an agreeable spot that a town was declared here Modern-day Willowmore still has the pace and the look of yesterday Golf has become the most popular sport and the Karoo-style buildings are generally well preserved nearly 2,000km of winter cycling through the vast Karoo from the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal down to Cape Town But if you like your transport a little more sedate then hop on the Willow Limo and see the town from between the twitching ears of a couple of slow-moving donkeys For more stories on the Karoo from Julienne du Toit and Chris Marais The Karoo Quartet Special (Karoo Roads 1 – 4) consists of more than 60 Karoo stories and hundreds of black and white photographs. Priced at R960 (including taxes and courier in South Africa), this Heritage Collection can be ordered from [email protected] ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers Four people have been killed in yet another collision on Eastern Cape's roads A spokesperson for Provincial Traffic Unathi Bhinqose says the accident happened at about 2 am on Friday on the N9 between Aberdeen and Willowmore He says the truck was travelling towards Willowmore while the taxi Bhinqose says two men and two women from the taxi died on the scene while injured patients were taken to hospital in Graaff Reinet He says the driver of the truck and taxi survived and will be facing charges of culpable homicide It has been a grim start to the festive season in the Eastern Cape with 22 people killed since the 1st of December The names of the deceased are not yet known an exclusive podcast on the life of Vicki Terblanche Dive into the expansive world of motoring with Naresh Maharaj Join Mark Marshall as he shares his extraordinary encounters with everything from bees to reptiles i In the Bunch March 30, 2021, 12:21 pm By Ingrid Avidon has won the women’s race at the 2021 Freedom Challenge: Race to Willowmore Avidon completed the 530km route from Cradock to Willowmore in the Eastern Cape in 62 hours and 58 minutes finishing third overall in addition to taking the honours in the women’s category The second woman across the finish line was Estelle Labuschange in 86 hours and 58 minutes The Race to Willowmore was won by Mike Woolnough in a new record time Avidon recently finished second in the women’s category – and sixth overall – in the Freedom Challenge: Race to Cradock which was won overall by Janine Stewart Exposure for your race: If you would like In the Bunch to promote your event through a series of articles, click here to ask us about our new PR product. See examples Copyright © 2010 - 2025 · Developed and managed by Full Stop Communications · Privacy Policy 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Willowmore Pte Ltd and CBM Pte Ltd are pleased to announce our partnership to develop a smart integrated facilities management platform which will revolutionise the facility management industry from left Mr Roy Chiang the Managing Partner of Willowmore and Mr Ng Joo Hee RPA and AI technologies with robots and automation to create a first-ever totally integrated approach to the complex business of facility and infrastructure management two-way communications and active/adaptive control we envisage facility managers to be able to optimise their operations and achieve performance and productivity improvements in ways not possible before "We are excited to join with CBM to build this most innovative platform product We fully expect that our joint initiative will prove to be game-changing for facility managers everywhere will bring unprecedented efficiency and productivity for managers and also an exceptional quality of service for their clients," said Peter Joo Hee Ng The collaboration between Willowmore and CBM brings together two leading lights in their respective domains already safeguarding thousands of telecom towers is IMDA-accredited and presently fitting out smart systems to secure critical infrastructure in Asia Pacific Already known for its enterprise-grade smart locks Willowmore possesses cutting-edge capabilities in AI-powered access control CBM is a reputable integrated facilities management company providing class-leading service and full-spectrum solutions for building owners "We are delighted to collaborate with Willowmore Pte Ltd to create a smart integrated FM platform that will transform facility management by unifying different types of FM services This product will complement CBM's existing in-house platform – digiHUB which currently helps building owners lower their cost of managing multiple properties," said Roy Chiang "This partnership is a testament to our commitment to providing our clients with the latest and most innovative solutions." "This partnership places Willowmore's leading edge product at the forefront of industry adoption and will provide tangible pathways to expand into the FM vertical We envision this intuitive real-time platform will help more facilities companies to optimise and raise work productivity setting the benchmark for the industry in Singapore and regionally" said Edwin Low Director of Enterprise & Ecosystem Development division of Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore The Willowmore-CBM smart integrated facilities management platform will be available later this year. Businesses interested in learning more about it can visit the Willowmore's (https://www.willowmore.com.sg/) and CBM's (https://www.cbm.com.sg/) websites for more information About CBM: CBM Pte Ltd is a leading provider of facility management solutions in Singapore About Willowmore: Founded and based in Singapore Willowmore is a technology company with international operations specialising in smart access control systems Three Karoo towns are facing daily power outages of more than six hours after the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality failed to adhere to a payment plan to cover its R127-million debt to Eskom The municipality cannot afford the R12-million monthly payment who was locked out of his office in Willowmore on Monday by angry residents Earlier this year the municipality stated in a presentation to Parliament that its monthly bill for salaries was R13-million Willowmore, Steyterville and Jansenville are now without electricity daily from 6am to 9am and again from 5pm to 8.30pm, with cuts of 14 hours at a time to be implemented by next week if no agreement can be reached.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads De Vos said the municipality had experienced financial difficulties since its establishment in August 2016 “Eskom and the municipality have been battling for a long time to find common ground Efforts were made to enter into payment arrangements with Eskom which are suitable to both Eskom and the municipality He explained that they wanted Eskom to change the bulk supply tariff for Jansenville He said the supply point needs to be upgraded from 1MVA (Megavolt Amperes) to 2MVA “Various penalties were being implemented by Eskom due to the maximum demand being exceeded which cannot be collected from [what] consumers were levied for overuse against the municipality.”  De Vos added that Eskom had requested a sizeable deposit for the upgrade to be done “Eskom refuses to enter into discussions on the write-off of penalties and interests accumulated since the inception of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality in August 2016,” he added He added that the municipality had reached an agreement with Eskom over the provision of electricity to uMasizakhe and Lotusville using municipal infrastructure “There is no clarity on what we are supposed to bill Eskom Eskom is at liberty to charge whatever they desire knowing we are in no position to verify their actions,” he added He said that the long-term repayment plan drawn up to cover the municipality’s debt of more than R127-million to Eskom must be sustainable and “a plan that we will be confident will not be defaulted on”. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “Three repayment proposals since inception of the municipality were made to Eskom A repayment plan was eventually entered into but due to our financial position could not be attained A redrafted plan has been provided by Eskom and is not incorporating or resolving the disputes at hand,” he said Eskom issued a notice of intent to interrupt bulk electricity supply to areas within the municipality’s jurisdiction as everyone has been affected by the impact of Covid-19 including the municipality whose revenue had decreased notably during the national lockdown months however the municipality acted swiftly to schedule engagements with the power utility The municipality’s application will be heard on Thursday, 29 October.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “The municipality is acutely aware of its financial obligation and not disputing payment to Eskom The municipality has not stopped making payments to Eskom R10.5-million was paid over to Eskom in the month of September 2020,” De Vos added which allows Eskom to use the municipal infrastructure to deliver electricity Jansenville and Willowmore and will continue until either the debt is paid or an acceptable payment agreement has been reached “Eskom reserves the right to effect credit control measures as stipulated in the supply agreement between Eskom and the municipality Eskom is obliged to collect all revenue due to it as required by the Public Finance Management Act The interruption of bulk electricity supply to the municipality will continue until the debt is paid in full or an acceptable repayment arrangement is reached,” he said The Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson on cooperative governance said that the residents of the municipality feel “that they have been thrown to the wolves as they are yet again being punished for the failures of their uncaring municipality” “Residents of the town are bearing the brunt of maladministration by the municipality Businesses are facing significant losses as they will either be forced to close their doors or spend significant sums of money on alternatives such as generators and the fuel to run them Residents’ lives are also being severely disrupted hospitals and clinics may not be able to operate and simple things such as the safe storage of perishable foodstuffs in a refrigerator are no longer viable options “These power cuts will have a drastic impact on residents’ basic human rights as water to all three towns is supplied from boreholes Sewerage will also be impacted as the pumps utilised for this are electrical,” she said She has written to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs She said the Camdeboo and Baviaans Local Municipalities which are part of the amalgamated Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality had settled their Eskom debts and that the Ikwezi Local Municipality (Jansenville) was mostly responsible for the Eskom debt Knoetze said the municipal manager and the chief financial officer should be suspended According to a presentation made by the municipality to Parliament in August 2020 it was running at a deficit of R68-million with an annual salary bill of R163-million – around R13-million a month Spokesperson for the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said the question was if the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality had approached the provincial government for help A more rounded article would have also shown the salary bill as a percentage of the total income of these towns I have a suspicion it might identify a major part of the problem We drive through these towns every year and watch how the litter problem grows Emails and calls to the municipality go unanswered I wonder when people will start to care enough to take responsibility for their lives and land Pity all this misguided energy towards covid wasn’t used towards more sustainable endeavors facing serious charges of rape and human trafficking in the Eastern Cape is expected to apply for bail in the local Magistrates Court on Thursday is currently out on bail for allegedly raping his seven-year-old daughter on several occasions His name may therefore not be used to protect the identity of his child The farmer has been in custody since his latest arrest earlier this month but is no stranger to legal woes he was the fifth man to be arrested and charged for allegedly plotting to kill President Jacob Zuma and other high-ranking ANC officials during the Mangaung conference in 2012 The trial of his co-accused became known as the "Boeremag Trial" which ran for over a decade a month after the farmer's arrest in February of 2013 all treason charges were withdrawn against him in the Bloemfontein regional court The State believed he was part of the conspiracy in that he was tasked to blow up fuel tanks in Gqeberha the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) did not want to elaborate as to whether or not the charges were withdrawn in exchange for his testimony The latest charges against the EC farmer stem from several incidents dating back to 2020 which is situated about 35 km outside Aberdeen in the direction of Willowmore along the N9 he took to social media pleading with the public to assist farmers who had lost livestock as a result of the drought that was described as one of the worst in the region's history Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli says the farmer is now linked to at least five cases of human trafficking and rape between 2020 and 2023 in the Eastern Cape and in other provinces.According to a report in the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser the farmer was found guilty on one charge of human trafficking and sexual assault following an incident in De Rust in October of 2021 Let me tell you the tale of Sophie Schutte who was so meshugge that when she went to jail the warden begged the magistrate to set her free The Old Jail in Willowmore was built back in 1880 to house stock thieves, cutthroats, bandits and drunks on what we politely call a “railway bender”. It was then transformed, first into a rather upmarket guesthouse and, lately, a Karoo hypnosis retreat, by owners Karen von Loeper-Dyatshenko and her husband Oleg.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads We are booked into one of the awaiting-trial cells where the old gaoler Sidney Walter Williams once spent a month himself for the crime of light fingers in the food stocks you really want to do time in this particular Old Jail yummy chocolates on pillows and free-range eggs for breakfast But back to Sophie Schutte in the hot Karoo summer of 1899 behaving quite disgracefully in the prison courtyard Syphilis has touched the poor woman’s brain and she’s gone through three nurses in just over a month Not the kind of guest you find in The Old Jail in Willowmore circa 2020 One of the revamped courtyards of the Old Jail in Willowmore On 27 March 1899, the warden makes a written plea to the local magistrate:advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “In her present condition it is impossible to punish her,” he says She is no danger to the public health.” Oh really The Dyatshenkos actually made a trip to the national archives in Cape Town and dug up all manner of records on the erstwhile Willowmore jail decorated with utterly Dickensian narrative touches It seems the jail warden was very keen on his written reports “I have the honour to bring to your notice the great inconvenience and loss of time to constables in taking insubordinates to the local Gaol owing to the want of a hand cart Read more in Daily Maverick: A traveller’s leisurely guide from Rietbron to Willowmore “The two hotels in proximity to which most drunks are found are situated half a mile from the Gaol consequently if the inobediate is helpless it takes two or three (constables) to convey him to the Gaol “Since a pump has been fixed at the Gaol the water cart is no longer necessary and I have ascertained that for the sum of five pounds a body could be made for the water cart wheels including a new axle which will serve the purpose of a hand cart.” After first looking up the meaning of “inobediate”, I feel a pun coming on. Something to do with being drunk on the water cart which is now a hand cart. But it needs some work, which we don’t really have time for because look where we are this morning: up in the craggy reaches of the Swartberg Pass.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads I’m perfectly happy in my freshly reconditioned old Isuzu KB relic from a distant past yammering away loudly to my wife’s in the passenger seat as the wind roars through the aged door seals The Karoo Space bakkie taking on the daunting Swartberg Pass for the 50th time in its life Descending the Swartberg Pass down to the Oudtshoorn side chugging up and down this Thomas Bain masterpiece of magical dirt road it seems even the old Karoo Spacemobile loves the views mine would have the midnight voice of Tom Waits At the top of the pass looking down on the Oudtshoorn Flats we talk about the little construction village that once existed around here Late local author Helena Marincowitz (you can buy all her wonderful booklets at the Fransie Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert) records that fresh bread was baked on-site, while one ox and 16 sheep were slaughtered for rations every week. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Once veggies were added to the protein, it was all sliced, diced and cooked up in massive cast-iron receptacles for the road builders, who were mainly convicts from Cape Town. Potjie a la Pass on a grand scale.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads The fantastical setting of Rietfontein Ostrich Palace alone warrants an overnight stay Lightning visit to the CP Nel Museum in Oudtshoorn Swanky parking background for the old Karoo Space bakkie The next morning we wake up at Rietfontein Farm with first light shining pink on the distant Swartberg range Because of the drought and the fickle bird market descendant of the first-ever ostrich farmer now deals in tourism and Feather Boom legends He has a trio of tame ostriches in a paddock out back his wife Elmaré will feed you a sumptuous dinner with ostrich fillet as the main course and you sleep scant metres away from one of the most beautifully designed feather palaces in the district We stop briefly at Ronnie’s Sex Shop (can’t drive past legends) and then we’re in Barrydale and suddenly there’s something terribly wrong with the bakkie’s innards. All its gears have gone pear-shaped. We just make it into the Auto Clinic, owned by Charl and Dottie Phillips.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads A brief stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop outside Barrydale before heading west again Pretty soon mechanic Spencer Mandix emerges from under the vehicle with bad news: little shiny bits of the synchro mesh have found their way into the gearbox oil which means the Karoo Space bakkie had been grinding itself to pieces up there in the Swartberg Pass The Auto Clinic in Barrydale has a quick confab with our home base mechanics at C.A.T Motors in Cradock and they both agree: we need a decent reconditioned gearbox from somewhere Dottie makes calls to all the shops she knows in the region and finally finds something that suits our freelance pockets up in Worcester has our broken gearbox packed in the boot of his old Audi sedan and drives off personally to fetch the reconditioned one in Worcester “We’ll have it in for you by tomorrow morning,” he promises the folks at the Diesel & Crème Diner have offered up their Karoo Moon Cottage and a cute little bread van for us to use as a runabout Ashley Janniker busy in his milkshake den at Diesel & Crème The Diesel & Crème Gang waiting to welcome travellers on Route 62 Coming up roses at the Karoo Moon Motel on Route 62 Early morning on the stoep of the Karoo Moon Cottage décor fiend and South African picker supreme He has an eye for the Crazy Harmony of Things Just walk around the place: old drive-in speakers an enamel sign advertising the services of a seamstress back in the days where such people would travel door to door with a suitcase full of “lappies” like the stained glass and the Las Vegas flashing sign A few Hollywood posters were bought from a vintage shop in Italy His son Dean is the legendary Milkshake Maestro of this fabulous diner on Route 62 he’s taught young Ashley Janniker (Swag to his friends) the art of the Amazing Milkshake The milkshake Capetonians queue up for on weekends the milkshake that sends them into sugar-orbit all Sunday afternoon Before Swag can fling a couple of these delicious monsters our way Dottie Phillips from down the road is on the blower: our bakkie awaits We head off to Diesel & Crème to return their delivery van and shower them all with thanks two South Americans pull over in their hire car and point at the image of the ostrich on our back window Lunchtime stop at Doornkraal Padstal outside De Rust Stopping for a bag of biltong in Prince Albert Driving through a world of onions in the Klein Karoo Smousing one last time on the trip with Celia le Roux of Doornkraal Padstal outside De Rust we pick up on this woman’s incredible wisdom a broken-down bakkie lets you meet the nicest people.” At the sight of my wife stashing one of her padstal pelargoniums into the back of the Isuzu “It will grow better than anything else in your garden – because you stole it from the right place…” For more stories on life in the Karoo, get the three-book special of Karoo Roads I, Karoo Roads II and Karoo Roads III (illustrated in black in white) for only R800, including courier costs in South Africa. For more details, contact Julie at [email protected] Ai I’m now “sommer net lus” and go tour there Barrydale is a jewel of a place,lovely article Used to have to travel to Oudtshoorn for work Although it did get tiring after a few months I remember we always stopped for wine and depending on who I was with You could get a nice half bottle of a good red You never see that anywhere and I wonder if they still have it A 70-year-old man who was the sole survivor of a devastating outbreak of Covid-19 in his family has been on Dr Thami Hewu’s mind of late “He was the only one in his family who took the vaccine, and they were not nice to him about it. Then they all got Covid, and he didn’t. Now all but him are dead… his wife, his son and his daughter.”advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads Dr Hewu returned to the medical field after a stint as a chicken farmer With a specialist qualification in obstetrics he now works at the Willowmore Hospital in the rural Eastern Cape Although he made his return to medicine “for our sisters” it is the men of the community who have recently been weighing heavily on his mind “I returned to the Eastern Cape because I believed that our people needed a doctor I was enjoying being a chicken farmer when the call came: ‘Dr Hewu Hewu was one of the speakers at an event organised by the Gift of the Givers to distribute much-needed supplies to Eastern Cape hospitals “The hospital didn’t have a bakkie available that day I said we can’t get a gift and not go fetch it ourselves Then they asked me if I wanted to talk after Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth But there were a lot of drivers there that day so I thought I would take my chances and talk about why men didn’t want to take the vaccine Many men tell me it is because they fear becoming impotent.” The latest vaccine statistics for the province show that 61.9% of vaccinated adults are women – only 38% are men.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads I am vaccinated and there is happiness at my house but there really is no evidence that the vaccine will lower libido “The only thing I can think of is that it comes from the fact that Covid-19 itself can damage the blood vessels “People are in denial about many things here being overweight and a lack of exercise can all cause a drop in libido but now the poor vaccine gets the blame and impotence becomes an excuse not to take it,” Hewu said He said men who got their first Pfizer jab seldom returned for a second dose “The vaccinators tell me at the school there is a class of 50 pupils “The mindset of our people is very difficult to comprehend,” he said adding that convincing those who are hesitant needed a careful and patient approach “You must erase all the reasons why they are not keen to get it “There are patients here who got Covid-19 and even post-recovery they are still not keen to get the vaccine,” he said “We see the same thing with smoking and it breaks my heart You would have a patient with a chest that is so very tight and you battle to get it open again he includes those of moms proudly showing their newborns In the cool breeze of the long corridor of the Royal Hotel in Willowmore you seem to hear the ghostly tinkle as the fingers of people long dead danced along the keyboard while others stood and watched The piano that stands solitary sentinel along a wall of the passage is a Brinsmead It guards a green wall in the lonely passage lined with doors in and out of which spirits may roam Maybe you’ve landed in a Coen Brothers movie or is Kubrick here and slasher Jack Torrance is about to stick his head through a door with a cackling “Heeeere’s Johnny!” The beautiful Brinsmead piano in a long corridor at Willowmore’s Royal Hotel It took me right back to the small town hotels of my Sixties youth although for some the place would be a tad below their “standards” My own standards are just fine with something as genuinely old school as this would see us in trendy Barrydale and a fine place called the Karoo Art Hotel which is all very “done” ominously named Die Laaste Watergat (the last watering hole) was every bit the kind you’d expect David Kramer to be singing about in that old song of his You felt you should have another one for the road in case you didn’t make it home Jakkals in front of the art deco fireplace in Die Laaste Watergat Above: The lovely art-clad lounge and reception and (below) the superb bar at Barrydale’s Karoo Art Hotel The best thing about Barrydale for ages has been that top road with all its multicoloured funky good looks and cool vibe But there’s a place worth turning left for now We stayed at the famously redecorated Karoo Art Hotel which is awash in art but more than that it is filled with gorgeous furniture fabulous rugs and tastefully upholstered sofas and armchairs; it’s all just-so and clearly done with a tasteful eye The art that adorns the walls is a part of the story and fabric of the place Below: The Eggs Benedict that delivered on a promise it’s one of the finest hotel stops in the Karoo if the fine end of things is what you want I especially loved its magnificent bar and the superbly friendly efficiency of the staff it’s only that it lacks even a tinge of that hard edge of the Karoo and that rustic mood that the Royal in Willowmore isn’t even trying to attain But the Constantia set who were in Barrydale that Saturday night should steer clear of Willowmore’s Royal Our family time in Cape Town and Arniston is not a part of this little traipse through the Karoo but while I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Piketberg up the West Coast we did drive to Riebeek-Kasteel for lunch at another Royal Hotel It is “done” but has managed to retain all of its old charm while building on top of that I was not expecting this at all; all I knew was that the Royal in Kasteel was a pleasant place to go to The Karoo is never without something new in its antiquity Rooi Karoo appears to be one name for the dryland Western Cape of this Swartland terrain though whether it’s a part of either the Klein or Great Karoo at all is moot this one in Riebeek-Kasteel in the Rooi Karoo I was photographing this particular Royal Hotel bar when my boet spotted a staff member opening a trapdoor and disappearing down it a little subterranean underworld of mystery and wonder where surely spectres linger ancient wine barrel is a vintage contrast to the boxes of liquor stacked along the sides and in alcoves where past treasures once might have been hidden A beautiful example of something remaining what it is while a bit of lighting and trickery make it a bit of a museum piece as well The old cellar below the bar at the Royal in Riebeek-Kasteel The cellar can be viewed from the bar above through the heavy glass ceiling/floor The menu at this Royal is full of interest prawns pil pil; mains such as their house burger with aged Cheddar beetroot pasta with burnt sage butter and Gorgonzola and my choice of kingklip with prawn velouté and fennel butter A most excellent lunch for a fish-starved Karoo boy Above: The beautiful lounge at the Royal Hotel in Riebeek-Kasteel after precious time with family and friends not least a visit to the Labia theatre in Gardens which is looking so grand with its new plush red and gilt trim and a splendid lunch with an old friend who treated me to fine fare and even finer companionship and conversation shifting and sighing in the old cinema seats When you’re the only person in the auditorium for a Labia screening where nothing much ever changes no matter how hard any new management may try (this is a good thing) Johnny Theunissen was in situ with his bugle to blow us all onto the red London bus and in the Lairds Arms again after the world’s shortest bus tour he honky-tonked his bounteous charm and love around the place as he has done thousands of times Our GrandBoy had his first Matjiesfontein bus tour this time Johnny having decided he was the great grandson of Lord Milner himself But I’ll explain all that to him when he grows up I remember other pianists at the Lairds Arms Kate who idles in the card room in the turret although back then they would have looked blank if you’d asked for it to be served with a “rosemary jus” On to Prince Albert to see old friends, so we would not have dinner in the Swartberg Hotel where we were staying but instead enjoy Elaine Hurford’s fine home fare, which I wrote about here The “Mont d’Or” Swartberg Hotel struck me as being more winelands than Karoo in style perhaps a consequence of one of the posh boutique hotel chains having got hold of it Inns can lose more than they gain when the hand of decoration knows no bounds; the personal loving touch dissipates as every new thing is brought in; and in time people look around and mutter that something’s missing; though they’re not quite sure what it is It’s the mysterious essence that’s missing diners may see a woman murdering her feckless lover but not having dined there I cannot of course vouch for it and they certainly have mood and mystery about them They say that in a certain glow of candlelight The Royal in Willowmore has not been “done” in any way and I suppose could benefit from it but I fear that if someone did get hold of it it would soon lose that which it now has; an indefinable flavour of the old times and the ability to make you feel you’ve slipped back to another era The Royal in Riebeek Kasteel has been “done” with taste but also restraint; it is so careful and nuanced that it seems always to have been as it is now The Karoo Art is greatly impressive in the way that a smart new car is; but offer me that or a vintage Zephyr in mint condition and you know which I’d choose The ghosts that linger in the old corridors have their own tales to tell and their thoughts about us as they see us come and go We might wonder what they would make of it all I suspect there is much ghostly muttering in the corridors Read Biénne Huisman’s take on Barrydale here Tony Jackman is Galliova Food Champion 2021. His book, foodSTUFF, is available in the DM Shop. Buy it here Follow Tony Jackman on Instagram @tony_jackman_cooks Share your versions of his recipes with him on Instagram and he’ll see them and respond SUBSCRIBE to TGIFood here. Also visit the TGIFood platform In the early 1960’s the surfaced part of Route 62 (it only became Route 62 later) stopped at Barrydale and nobody would have regarded the dorp as a desirable destination The firm of consulting engineers I worked for at the time had the design brief for the next section Ronnie’s sex shop must have existed as a derelict building What I do remember is an abandoned farmhouse it was so still that you became aware of the noise of your own breathing We stayed for some months in the Barrydale Hotel probably the same building that features in this article Everything closes down during the winter (when we had the misfortune of overnighting on the coldest night of the year with no hot water and only one eatery open) Forget about buying local wines (the co-op closed years ago) and Now Calitzdorp; that is another story altogether Funny I should read a food “page” for the writing I think it is about time that all these ‘Royal Hotels’ start paying me a Royalty for using my name Paid partnership with Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism a 230 kilometre single stage event that takes riders from Willomore through the Baviaanskloof to finish at Jefferys Bay At both the eastern and western entrances to the reserve are the World Heritage Site Interpretive Centres with dedicated displays that showcase the reserve Guides are on hand to show visitors around the centre and explain all about the rich biodiversity cultural heritage and natural wonders that make Baviaanskloof one of the most spectacular regions in the country In addition to the scenic splendour of the region Baviaanskloof is fast gaining recognition as one of South Africa’s premier adventure destinations Traversing this reserve by 4×4 or on a mountain bike (permission and support vehicle required) up rugged mountain passes is an unforgettable true wilderness experience Baviaanskloof is famous for its remarkable hiking and 4×4 trails providing its visitors hours of splendour and wonder in the Wilderness Access from the east: Travel from the N2 to Patensie along the R331 and from Patensie to Komdomo on the R332 (27km) Access from the west: Take N9 from George to Willowmore and from Willowmore to Coleske gate on the R332 (100km gravel) Baviaanskloof offers visitors the chance to embrace true wilderness with campsites on the banks of the Groot River (Komdomo campsite) and in the Kouga Dam region (Doodsklip and Rooihoek campsites) – in close proximity to awesome deep river pools self-catering hut with breathtaking views and is used as a basecamp for hikers (3-STAR): 27 sites with power point supply ROOIHOEK CAMPSITE: 6 sites (Kouga Dam region) BERGPLAAS TRAIL HUT: 2 bedrooms with bunk beds Visit visiteasterncape.co.za to plan your adventure I undertook an extended road trip to Cape Town I wanted to see what was happening with the drought in the area because stories on it cropped up every so often in the media and it has been going on for between six and eight years I had no plan other than a contact number for Gift of the Givers co-ordinator Is it as bad as reported? In a nutshell, it is. Devastatingly so.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads There are plenty of statistics around the issue of the drought – this is more of a personal perspective I’m still a little confused by the drought It is difficult to show visually – a case of looking It is also a romantic place of feelings that sometimes go beyond expression and where a photograph can only suggest the magnificence of the place Dickie and Colleen Ogilvie’s farm on Doornkraal outside Aberdeen He says the average rainfall for the area in normal times is around 250mm; the last seven years have seen only about a third of that The best rainfall is over March and April “but we’ll take it anytime it happens” At the beginning of November there was a huge downpour and a neighbour experienced 50mm in 20 minutes The dam was completed in 1957 and was not built as a storage dam but for flood control and irrigation of farms below the dam It lies 30km outside of Willowmore towards Aberdeen and was last full in 2000 Due to some rain further north and a farmers dam wall breaking near Rietbron a month after this photograph was taken it had some water in it again It did fill not to capacity and days later the dam was dry again “The veld is so hard and dry and lacking in cover that the runoff is quick like water across a concrete slab.” Very little if anything is absorbed fill his dam almost to the point of overflowing Dickie Ogilvie stand near the main dam on his farm Doorndraai near Aberdeen The dams on the farm have only been dry twice in the past 35 years and the veld is devastated The Karoo bush is the bread and butter of the veld he says and is doubtful whether many will recover For the veld to recover could take up to five years if the rains return to their normal pattern and become effective which is needed to stimulate their appetite… you can throw mielies out until you’re blue in the face and it won’t do much good without the veld nutrition.”  The main dam on his farm is also dry (one of five all dry) for only the second time in 35 years The small ecosystem that once thrived below the dam wall is gone “They are dying in their hundreds,” says Dickie We also drove by the carcass of a springbok many of which are also reportedly dying in numbers The ubiquitous thorn tree of the Karoo is dying It has only been dry twice in the last 35 years The edge of the dry dam has numerous bleached white shells of Mountain tortoise “The desert animals are dying and when they start dying we are in big trouble,” says Danie Meiring A little over a month after this photograph was taken the area experienced a massive downpour With the sparse cover on the veld the water ran off rapidly but this dam is now (08 Nov 2021) about 30cm from overflowing An all too familiar site in the drought areas The trees’ fate is of great concern to the farmers.Doorndraai I first noticed the trees in the Camdeboo National Park which I used as my base but brutally mangled by the long-term effects of the drought They say of the drought that it is bad (occasionally “very bad”) or simply “dry” The ubiquitous ‘Karoo bush’ which farmer Dickie Ogilvy describes as the ” bread and butter of the veld” has been devasted over large swathes of the Eastern Cape Karoo It is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for not only livestock but the wild animals of the region.R341/N9 between De Rust and Willowmore Dr Gideon Groenewald, a hydrologist who works with Gift of the Givers, says, “When farmers in that area say they are in trouble, you must know that it is really bad.” He also says that the dry periods are getting longer and the normal (good) times shorter. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “There is a 200-year drought cycle that lasts 18 years… we still have another 10 years to go Danie Meiring (on the right) watches on with concealed delight and much relief as the team clean out his borehole without having to drill deeper With the second flush he allowed himself a brief display of joy by giving two thumbs up All the farmers I spoke to agreed that climate change might have something to do with their predicament but do think that it has exacerbated the situation and if it does persist for a further 10 years it could end farming there – or at least drastically change the way farming is done The average rainfall figures can also be skewed says Owen Poultney who farms on Volsruisleegte The cleaning out of the borehole means that the animals can at least get water again on Hoogekraal Farm between Willowmore and Aberdeen Just below the Beervlei Dam and 30km outside Willowmore on the Aberdeen Road What happened then was a flash flood with damage and destruction – the same pattern mentioned by Dickie Ogilvie making it impassable for a couple of hours but here it was a form of frozen manna for the veld the stones were small and the damage minimal,” says Owen “The hail lay 15-20cm deep all over the farm and the runoff from the melted hail put some water in our dam.” He smiled – a good memory smile The confusion for me around the drought is that there are areas that look fine but aren’t You can get caught in the rain in Willowmore but there’s not a sign of rain anywhere near your farm 40km away “It stops within a few white lines on the road and goes no further,” says Owen Owen Poultney in the community room on Volstruisleegte Farm Each working day starts here with a bible reading and a prayer Followed by a discussion around what need doing for the week and that day Owen considers it important to inform and listen community workshops and celebrations also take place in the room Last year Douglas Toise’s 50th birthday was celebrated here There are, I discovered, three kinds of drought that are used as a measure. A meteorological drought where the average rainfall is less than it should be over a defined period where it affects soil moisture; and a hydrological drought where basically the rivers and dams dry up and groundwater levels drop Large swathes of the Karoo in the Eastern Cape are suffering all three according to some international academics – that of a “human-induced drought” This is due to the changing of water courses through dams and boreholes and management of the resource Owen Poultney says he is fortunate to have “a good bunch of lads who understand the situation and we all do what has to be done” of the farm Hoogekraal the day the borehole drillers arrived to check two of his three dry boreholes He could only afford for them to check two This one proved to only be blocked by roots and needed flushing out He was much relieved that they did not have to drill deeper and please that he could fill the dam and water the animals at least.Willowmore Drought “We have had a few workers leave us and I try to talk them out of it The situation is such that he cannot replace them and the workload is divided among those who stay One of the necessities is the almost continuous mixing of feed for the livestock which are kept in camps close to the farmstead then a discussion about what needs to be done that day and in the week ahead “It’s important that everyone knows where we stand and why,” says Poultney Angora goats rapidly descended on me as I stopped and got out of my car to open and close the gates of the camp on the Ogilvies Doorndraai farm Because their feed has to be supplemented to the levels that it now is They associate vehicles stopping and people with food Douglas Toise has worked for Poultney for 20 years; his wife also works on the farm As we share the coolness of the dining room and a welcome soft drink he has few words of complaint: it’s more a harsh reality “Dit het kwaai afgedroog,” he says of the drought “dis ‘n harde stryd maar ons moet net ons oe ophou die reen sal eendag kom… ons hoop dit sal kom.”  He and his wife Lizzy attend church every Sunday with Poultney and his wife Pat The Dominee informs the congregation about their district so no one feels as if they’re alone in this hardship hulle harte is oop en dis ‘n ver end wat hulle stoot net om te kom help,” he says of the donations that come in from farmers up-country Douglas Toise who works on Volstruisleegte Farm he has been there for 20 years and leans on his faith to deal with the current hardships Behind him is the dam which has water in it thanks to a hailstorm Eugene Van Der Bank is the Volsruisleegte farm manager He speaks of how the drought has brought their community closer “It’s a pity it came to this (the drought),” he says “But it’s a good thing to bring us closer together.” The immediate community he talks of is made up of around 15 farms He explains the visual contradictions of the veld – the north side of the koppies is usually the “good” side while the south is “sour veld” and not so good “The drought periods are getting longer and the ‘good years’ shorter,” he says Neighbouring farmer Danie Meiring and his wife San-Marie provide a veritable oasis for travellers passing along the N9 – the Oppi-Vlak Farmstall some of which he shares with his local community He speaks of the generosity of those who can see how distressed the area is One customer will say he has feed for livestock another will offer transport… someone else might offer to contribute towards fuel costs – it all comes together and is delivered to Poultney’s farm as he has a forklift tractor and it is shared out from there drives the tractor and loads Mias Fouries truck with not only his share but two other farmers for who Mias offered to transport their bales The farm has become an ad hoc distribution centre for their community A lot of the donations come from the Free State and Northwest Provinces through connections of neighbour Danie Meiring “We’re completely on our own here… the government has not helped at all.” We sit over a breakfast roosterkoek while springbuck nibble at a lucerne bale just over the fence – cute The food in the veld is so depleted that he’s forced to provide them with bales so you must know how desperate they are to come this close,” he says Feeding time in one of the camps at Volstruisleegte Farm the goats come running as soon as someone walks through the gate with a sack Up to four batches of food have to be mixed a day to keep up with the farms demands He’d removed 23 dead springbuck from behind the farm stall two weeks earlier – “not nice for the public to see” A dominee from Bethlehem asked him to send pictures and a video so he could raise funds for them within his congregation “I just can’t do that; it breaks my heart,” was his response Danie tells the story of an elderly woman in Bloemfontein who deeply troubled by the plight of the animals contacted him and said she wanted to donate a bag of mielies and asked how she could get it there There are other similar stories of ordinary people doing what they can to help Danie Meiring was concerned that this dam stood empty for long as it did “That’s when the cracks widen and leaks happen” he said adding that the sludge at the bottom isn’t cleaned out because it helps with cracks in the bottom.” The branches were put there for the monkeys to help them get to the water without getting stuck and drowning even though there are troughs outside and overflow ridge specifically for the animals and birds.” Willowmore A plastic bottle sits on the counter near the till at Oppi-Vlak This is for public donations – last year they could help pay for diesel for some deliveries after raising more than R24,000 Dickie Ogilvy says that after six years of drought a bit of government aid came the way of commercial farmers in the area Others received less – not even a day’s worth of feed for most.”  The provincial government did make money available for drought relief but none made it out to the plains beyond Graaff-Reinet Camdeboo National Park outside Graaff-Reinet The first giveaway for me that there is a serious water problem was noticing the dead thorn trees This remained so throughout my trip around the area The trees’ fate is of great concern to the farmers Danie is waiting for a borehole drilling team from Uitenhage – they’re two weeks late He has three dry boreholes but can only pay for two of them to be worked on He explains that the old farmers of this Eastern Cape part of the Karoo claimed that the area within a 40km radius around the Skoorsteenberg (closer to Aberdeen) was the best veld in all the Karoo you can’t walk through the veld without stepping on a small bush… now there are sections you can drive through without going over one.”  He continues: “It should be one unit for every 2.5 hectares now we’re around 25-30 hectare for one unit.” A unit being small livestock such as goats and sheep While some have more capacity than others to survive the drought there are many who are struggling to survive Some have given up and others have taken their own lives The early morning sun illuminates the NG Church in Willowmore the congregation was established in 1864 and the rebuild of the church completed and the inauguration in 1964 But God is on our side so we live for what comes after death I ask about their faith; it is as much a part of the farming way of life as the land and animals Owen Poultney says their faith helps; it strengthens the bonds with other community members He also thinks their faith has played a big part in the relatively small number of suicides “We can’t do this without God.” I suggest that even though they pray “He’ll bring the rain when He’s ready.” Lesser men would buckle a lot sooner The goats and sheep have become accustomed to being hand-fed and see anyone who stops a car as a source of food They come running and bleating towards you newly born on Dickie and Colleen Ogilvy’s farm Doorndraai near Aberdeen measures have to be taken to feed and protect the livestock by keeping them in camps close to the farmstead Newly born lambs and kids are particularly vulnerable Pied Crows are known to gather and wait and once they’re born the crows strike and peck the eye’s and tongues out San-Marie Meiring couldn’t sit for long on the veranda the evening before we spoke She said she had to go inside because of all the animals who gathered around and stared at her expectantly Pride takes a huge knock when a farmer struggles to provide adequately for his family and the farm under the pretence of going off to do a chore in the veld it’s a tragedy but the government cannot help because they have stolen it all Major dams are overflowing all over the country but there is no means of delivering it to the areas where it is needed her mother Violet Martin and Veronica Olyn People dressed in pointy hats with tinkling bells split across two remote and dusty settlements in the Eastern Cape The first is in a tiny old church in Vondeling a blip of a settlement around a ruined railway station The other unlikely angelic production line is in a classroom of the Bronville Primary School in Rietbron fashion around 20 000 Karoo angels from wire and they are despatched to faraway places like Norway when Cacadu District Municipality (now Sarah Baartman District Municipality) launched an upliftment initiative aimed at handcraft skills development business creation and the sourcing of appropriate markets one of those breathless projects that generally waste money dash dreams and create herds of white elephants The municipality entrusted the mentorship to two dedicated women in Port Elizabeth: Hannelie Herselman and Gardi Oosthuizen of Craft Partners The District Municipality chose Vondeling for the initiative a hamlet of some 29 families (including neighbouring farms) with a school and church Income mostly came from social grants or seasonal piecework on farms The story about how it all started is still very much alive in the village Siena Klaassen (now deceased) was one of the first to be involved she told us: “This craft business started a bit like an optel kind Hannelie and Gardi showed us first to start off with things that were lying around us – old tins That’s why we called our project Vondeling Optel Craft.” Gardi adds: “We then built on their existing knowledge of crochet and knitting using thin wire and beautifully coloured beads One of the items they produced was an angel with beaded feet peeking out of the wire-crocheted robe after one of the young leaders in their team Then came an unlikely series of minor miracles that linked this speck on the map to Oslo in Norway Feathered Karoo angels began to adorn Nordic conifers the angel team in Vondeling was struggling to keep up with the orders The District Municipality had appointed Gardi and Hannelie to repeat Vondeling’s success in another remote community – Rietbron the two taught a group of women to crochet and knit hearts wire trees and small jewellery items using fine wire They sold fairly well locally and overseas but there was less demand for their ranges than for Vondeling’s it seemed only natural to deploy the deft hands at Rietbron Handcrafts to help fill the demand Since then the two groups have worked together under the Karoo Angels label naming themselves as “The Angel Factory in the Karoo” Because of ever-increasing sales it was necessary to set up a vehicle that could handle exports in a compliant way and Kjersti formed Karoo Angels (Pty) Ltd in 2013 By then also all state funding support had stopped and the craft activities in both Vondeling and Rietbron were and remain dependent on orders to survive What started with one angel in 2006 is now a range of more than 75 named after the angelmakers and family members have been incredibly helpful – even though we are among their smaller clients The angel-makers are still talking about their visit to the feather workers and an ostrich farm two years ago!” The two craft groups manage production themselves “Their professionalism and commitment is critical,” says Kjersti and that is why we do not compromise on quality,” adds Ronel Skaarnek of Rietbron Being angelmakers has brought many blessings to the women of Vondeling Optel Craft and Rietbron Handcrafts the Karoo Angels were represented for the first time at the huge trade show SARCDA in Johannesburg Another development in the past year has been a collaboration with the Nelson Mandela University’s Department of Life Sciences which is working closely with the crafters to promote healthy lifestyles in the villages The angels have also allowed a kind of creative expression that might not have been possible before Violet Martin would have been a recognised artist we receive visitors from across the country and overseas These angels have given life to my dreams.” Kjersti of Oslo adds: “It is indeed a miracle that thousands of handmade angels every year fly from the Karoo plains to countries far away people in every corner of the world will open a small gift and discover a skilfully handmade angelic creation and on the label they will read the words: There is an angel factory in the Karoo…” Tshianeo Mathidi in Venda is cultivating more than just potatoes – he's growing back a family legacy.. With 21 global awards in the first six years of its existence Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society Contact usOffice: +27 21 879 1824News: info@foodformzansi.co.zaAdvertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za that means JavaScript has been disabled on your browser Please enable JavaScript to make this website work Home | South Africa A car accident on the N9 between Aberdeen and Willowmore in the Eastern Cape claimed the lives of four passengers earlier today It is alleged that a Hino truck collided with a minibus taxi and the four deceased passengers were from the minibus and negligent driving are suspected to have been the main contributors to the accident A case of culpable homicide has been opened Department of Transport Spokesperson Unathi Binqose says the MEC of Transport in the Eastern Cape has urged motorists to be cautious “The accident happened in the Aberdeen area because by the time the motorists get there they will have traveled four to five hours from the Eastern Cape or Western Cape This is why the MEC of Transport in the Eastern Cape has called on motorists to get some rest to avoid these crashes,” says Binqose a slightly-built guy with bushy eyebrows and a studious mien arrives out of a dust storm in a middle-of-nowhere place called Rietbron Pedestrians don’t pitch up at Rietbron every day of the week, because the village lies on a sandy smudge on the map between the major Karoo centre of Beaufort West and the charming town of Willowmore to the south-east. advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads bespectacled newcomer is Dr Peter Kenneth Le Sueur a highly-qualified quantum physicist with a deep knowledge of steam trains we discussed the common thermodynamic link between ghosts and trains and the transfer of energy a fundamental cornerstone of the workings of the Universe with the promise of rainfall in the evening De le Seuer buys a house and hires Anthony Cohen to enclose the porch so he can have more darkness and a bit of an escape from noisy morning birds mainly to revive them to their former glory and prevent them from being “modernised” Driving in on the gently undulating dirt road from the Willowmore side our first indication of life is the green smudge of trees around the graveyard and then the top half of the face-brick Moederkerk Surrounding the church are deceptively tiny dwellings built around a century ago mostly as Nagmaalhuisies by the farmers – places to come for communion Most of the large backyards stilcul boast a braai chimney and an outdoor privy pepper trees and saltbush hedges – essential dryland garden elements with its spire topped by a flying springbok weathervane spinning in the breeze and pulling up sweet water A classic country backyard: never complete without grandfather’s old bakkie The Kapok Winkel trading store is the centre of all commercial action in Rietbron dressed in his signature floppy hat against the sun and oversized wool jacket against the late winter cold Cohen’s one regret is that he didn’t pitch up earlier to save the old leiwater system of furrows which traditionally waters the street trees and back yard groves of a small Karoo town the furrows were closed and water was piped to houses has the look of a long-abandoned goat kraal The water furrows had been built by farmers who were given the work during the Great Depression The Padda Dam that once stored water for a section of leivoor (furrow) system shutters are crucial for houses that are left empty for any length of time Most houses in the main part of town still cost about R380,000 who says he can build for an astonishingly low R3,000 a square metre have been working together now for the past ten years from making shutters to plumbing and electrical Busy in the workshop – Brandon Johnson and Anthony Cohen Between projects in the village, Cohen builds gravesites with the classic Rietbron stone chip topping in such a way that burrowing little creatures like ground squirrels and meerkats can gain no entry. He also takes his prowess out to the township.advertisementDon't want to see this? Remove ads “I’ve got to show you this one extension I’ve done,” says Cohen We take a drive out to the township to see his ‘Karoo Cube’ the envy of Petro Tshandu’s neighbours in an otherwise drab RDP ensemble of identical little structures Inside the perfect ‘cube’ is a lounge leading into the kitchen and living area Cohen explains why he added grey ‘quoins’ to the corners usually made by the ‘crosshatching’ of stones “It’s always the corners that get dirtiest first and it was a way of strengthening the walls without adding too much cost.” Anthony Cohen explaining the concept of Karoo cubism in Rietbron’s township What underpins his house plans and everything he creates – from doors to shutters to houses to garden gates and even graves – is the elegance of mathematics and the Golden Mean Everything is about proportion and the ratio of 1.618.” I have to confess to him that I am a mathematical Gobi Desert “What do you mean when you’re talking about the loci of squares and perfect rectangles and pentagram houses?” carefully draws a series of interlocking squares and rectangles joined by a radius that widens into an ever-growing spiral He explains that the classic builders of old often used this ratio which yields proportions that are intensely and mystically pleasing to the human eye The Golden Mean apparently underpins the natural design of everything from the arrangement of petals to spiral galaxies and even the features of a lovely child’s face have something to do with this harmonious ratio who treacherously moves away and starts framing up another picture of the wide-open streets and lovely little houses Cohen explains it to me in words I can understand He admires the pragmatism of Karoo builders who came before him “The methods they deployed made complete sense So many of the old houses used to have slate or stone at the foundations reasoning that it doesn’t rain all that often in the Karoo but cement actually draws it further and further up.” Designed for maximum shade: Anthony Cohen remodelled this Karoo house for Dr le Seuer He takes us to a house he has rebuilt for a client Despite the missing fanlight above the door It appears to be exactly the same proportions as a Karoo brakdakkie dwelling “The little classic Karoo houses were designed for extension You could very easily just knock down a wall and build bigger The pickings in a tiny place like Rietbron remain very slim I attended the farewell party of an architect and one little question that someone asked just stuck in my brain: “I hope I am leaving behind a town that is more beautiful than when I found it.” DM/ML This is an extract from Karoo Roads I – Tales from South Africa’s Heartland For an insider’s view on life in the Dry Country, get the three-book special of tales of the Karoo with monochrome images, Karoo Roads I, Karoo Roads II and Karoo Roads III for only R800, including courier costs in South Africa. For more details, contact Julie at [email protected] In case you missed it, also read “Norval’s Pont in the Northern Cape — where legends shine forever“ we didn't find any matches for'{{=it.keyword}}' Learn how we as the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) drive Singapore’s digital transformation by building a vibrant digital economy and an inclusive digital society Discover innovation opportunities and the different programmes we offer Enabling businesses and academia with new technologies Our key highlights and results for the past year Our efforts to shape international rules and norms in the digital domain Our efforts to build Singapore as a trusted Data Hub Learn more about IMDA’s career opportunities and join us as Architects of Singapore’s Digital Future we seek a vibrant business environment where businesses thrive and consumer interests are protected IMDA has put in place a number of guidelines and codes of practices to bring clarity to the industry as well as provide more informed choices for consumers creating a level playing field for the various industry players and licensees Read shareworthy content and our latest news Success stories and exclusive thought leadership content by IMDA Stay up-to-date with our latest press announcements and speeches Read about the companies that have been enrolled under IMDA Be aware of scammers impersonating as IMDA officers and report any suspicious calls to the police. 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For scam-related advice, please call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799 or go to www.ScamShield.gov.sg but it also generates a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions due to the millions of kilometres driven to retrieve physical keys Joseph and his team saw an opportunity to develop a digital solution that would strengthen the security of critical infrastructure Willowmore’s Enterprise Internet of Things (IOT) Smart Lock is a keyless smart lock system that enables companies to issue virtual keys to the smartphones of authorised personnel Besides eliminating the need for physical keys the Enterprise IOT Smart Lock also provides a comprehensive audit trail of access records Site access can be continuously monitored through artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics Environmental sensors can also be added to enrich site visibility.  Willowmore’s Enterprise IOT Smart Lock was well received by the industry regionally with Singaporean and Indonesian players in critical infrastructure adopting its products The company began thinking about breaking into new markets like Malaysia and Australia we wanted to be successful on home ground before we considered regional and global expansion we realised that in order to establish ourselves in the Singapore market we needed to show that our business was reliable The IMDA Accreditation programme stood out to us – the framework they provide is trusted by so many of the government agencies in Singapore,” said Joseph The IMDA Accreditation programme provides assurance for Singapore-based companies that have developed or own innovative infocomm media products The programme provides a streamlined procurement process for IMDA-accredited products and services by qualifying the vendor for projects with government buyers and create new business opportunities with large enterprises with recurring market access platforms the accreditation process provides an independent third-party evaluation of these companies’ product core functionalities and their ability to deliver Willowmore landed a project with the Public Utilities Board (PUB) The company was tasked to help PUB develop a system to secure sludge trucks and prevent illegal dumping by general waste collectors Joseph and his team developed a Smart Lock access control system that enabled drivers to verify and unlock the truck with a touch of a button on their smartphones all activities are captured and logged in the web portal which allowed PUB managers to monitor remotely if sludge is being loaded and unloaded at the designated place and by the right driver Willowmore’s solution has helped PUB streamline workflow and enhance operational efficiency "Smart locks allow PUB to save on manhours previously used to manually check locks and driver behaviour," Joseph explained.  Willowmore’s Smart Lock solution has been implemented at various PUB locations including the Marina Barrage Since it first began its partnership with PUB Willowmore’s mandate has expanded five times to include locations such as water supplies Joseph shared that the accreditation process was rigorous but greatly benefitted Willowmore IMDA’s comprehensive assessment of the company’s financial and technological performance identified ways in which they could improve and enhance their operations Learn how EtonHouse leveraged IMDA’s Digital Leaders Programme to integrate smart tech IMDA organises the inaugural Red Teaming Challenge in Singapore to test LLMs on regional bias stereotypes and advance gen AI.. 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Click here to select which profile you belong to have died in three separate traffic incidents in the past 24-hours on roads in the Western Cape a truck and a light motor vehicle crashed head-on near Dwyka Bridge on the N1 between Laingsburg and Prins Albert Road in the Karoo Africa says there were also fatal collisions on the N2 outside Albertinia and Athlone in Cape Town Africa has appealed to drivers to exercise patience while the crash scene on the N1 near Laingsburg is being cleared “In this crash the driver of the light motor vehicle died one lane is still closed to traffic;  two children died in a motor vehicle crash outside Albertinia on the N2 near Riversdal;  and then also Jakes Gerwel road in Athlone where a Kia and another vehicle was involved in a crash and the Kia driver also died.” four people were killed after the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and overturned on the N9 between Willowmore and Aberdeen in the Eastern Cape The provincial Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose confirmed that the four people were declared dead on the scene Get solution recommendations for your business needs broadband and more at Singtel Business eShop "(Required)" indicates required fields Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Montreux Jazz Festival Miami has revealed an expanded lineup for its second-annual event In addition to previously announced headlining performances by Jon Batiste & Friends (Friday Montreux Jazz Festival Miami will now feature appearances by 10-time Grammy-winning “Queen of Funk” Chaka Khan (3/1) and NAACP Image Award-winner WILLOW (2/28) the genre-melding alt-pop artist and daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Other newly added artists include 7-time Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and 16-time Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning clarinetist and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera both of whom will join Sunday’s “La Descarga” Afro-Cuban jam hosted by Jon Batiste and Cimafunk & La Tribu alongside beloved Cuban musicians Alfredo Rodríguez with the support of the Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation Related: Willow Smith Plays Primus On Instagram, Les Claypool Approves [Video] Originally conceived as a pure jazz festival Montreux began showcasing other styles of music throughout the decades and today presents artists from virtually every genre imaginable In addition to its flagship event on the shores of Lake Geneva the Montreux Jazz Festival has exported its unique expertise and ambiance to cities worldwide for over fifty years The 2025 edition of Montreux Jazz Festival Miami promises one-of-a-kind musical moments in an intimate setting Five-time Grammy-winner Award Jon Batiste will kick off the weekend on Friday with his specially curated headlining set to host after-hours Montreux Jam Sessions each night following the headliner performances Related: Montreux Jazz Festival Shares Over 50 Full-Set Videos [Watch] played a key role in bringing Montreux to Miami He headlined the inaugural edition and hosted the late-night Jam Sessions that made international news and served as the primary curator of the festival’s 2025 lineup “Bringing the soul of Montreux to the heart of Miami is an honor It’s a rare festival where the room is intimate and musical collaboration and improvisation are central to the experience We had an unforgettable experience last year and can’t wait to be back.” Attendees will be able to enjoy high-quality cuisine from the likes of Michelin-starred Chef Henrique Sá Pessoa’s Sereia and buzzworthy Miami eatery Celia’s and explore a pop-up installation from Dante’s HiFi Festival VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend masterclasses with select artists Related: Jon Batiste To Perform National Anthem At Super Bowl LIX “The first edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Miami was an incredible success we are thrilled to bring even more unforgettable performances and experiences to Miami’s vibrant music scene We look forward to deepening our connection with this beautiful city and celebrating the rich diverse sounds that make the Montreux Jazz Festival so unique.” Single-day ticket prices for Montreux Jazz Festival Miami begin at $129, with VIP tickets at $569 and Legend tickets at $999. Payment plans are also available. Find ticketing details here A post shared by Montreux Jazz Festival Miami (@montreuxjazzfestivalmiami) Copyright © 2025 L4LM | Website by Computer Courage Disney is making huge changes to its streaming services which include Disney+ and Hulu where dozens of programs are getting removed which includes woke Marvel content and the awful one-and-done Willow series from Kathleen Kennedy Also recall how Disney is now releasing all the episodes for Marvel’s Echo series at the same time but what is getting removed from Disney+ includes woke content such as Marvel’s Project Hero and Marvel’s Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever and Lucasfilm’s Willow also happens to be bigtime woke On a related note, Marvel Comics is also killing off Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel who happens to be the least-watched Disney+ Marvel series the list of content getting yanked includes largely short-lived (canceled) series It’s my understanding from the article it’s because the content on Disney+ and Hulu that is getting removed isn’t worth the price of keeping it on the streaming services (which means no one is watching) RELATED:Peacemaker Season 2 Premiere Date Announced: August 21st, Watch The Teasers Deadline says removing the programs is part of a “content impairment charge of $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion.” Correct me if I am wrong but a content impairment charge essentially represents a write-down of the asset’s value acknowledging that it is no longer worth its previously recorded amount So the impairment charge reflects the reduction in the asset’s value and is recorded as an expense on the company’s (Disney’s) income statement Disney isn’t keeping the pulled content up anymore because it’s worth less than keeping them on the streamers CFO Christine McCarthy noted during the recent Disney’s earnings call on May 10 “We are in the process of reviewing the content on our DTC services to align with the strategic changes in our approach to content curation.” RELATED:The Sandman Season 2: Netflix Reveals Final Chapter Release Date Source: Deadline