Vir bykans ’n eeu was die historiese gewelhuis, net buite Potchefstroom op pad na Carletonville die tuiste van oom Sareltjie Yssel. Vandag het sy huis ’n nuwe baadjie. Dit is uitgeskud, opgetooi en nuut gemaak. In die tuin speel kleuters in ’n moderne speelgrond...
A heart for parentless children
The plight of parentless children in Potchefstroom was never more acute than after the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). When the Potchefstroom concentration camp officially closed on 6 February 1903 a large number of destitute orphans were left behind. My article on the...
Jurie Schoeman – larger than life
For the people of his generation, he was a larger than life character. He was known for his business acumen and outspokenness, but also as an unintentional instigator of the movement to preserve the heritage of Potchefstroom. He is Jurie Schoeman. During the 1970s the...
The Potchefstroom Library – more than a century of service to the community
In the Potchefstroom Herald of 13 June 2024 it was reported that Potchefstroom had been without a library for three weeks from 17 May to 7 June 2024. This happened after its computer system was shut down due to the fact that through an oversight the municipality did...
Siege of the Potchefstroom Fort – a story of sorrow from long ago
The misfortune of more than 320 people who for almost three months were trapped in an area of 25 X 25 m (440m), is one of the great heart-breaking stories of Potchefstroom. It was during the First War of Independence (1880-1881). The event is known as the Siege of the...
Cronjé Lemmer – super-talented fashion designer and artist
Soft spoken, humble and with expressive blue eyes, Cronjé Lemmer is one of the most talented artists that is a Potchefstroom legend. For many decades he was the preferred fashion designer for the wives of political giants and other celebrities. In August 2023 a book...
Wendri Eloff – vier dekades diens aan bejaardes
As daar een mens in Potchefstroom is wat gesorg het dat Potchefstroom anders lyk as voor sy op die toneel verskyn het, is dit Wendri Eloff. Sy het aan die einde van Oktober 2023 afgetree as direkteur van die Potchefstroomse Dienssentrum vir Bejaardes na ’n...
The auditorium that almost was not
After the magnificent concert on Sunday, 8 October, performed by a combined NWU Symphony Orchestra, the Rhapsody Orchestra from Bloemfontein and the North West Youth Orchestra, accompanied by the NWU Choir and the NWU Serenaders, I again realised what an absolute gem...
LJ du Plessis – Bybelvertalers se steunpilaar
Enkele dae gelede, op 27 Augustus, is die amptelike ontvangs van die eerste Bybel in Afrikaans negentig jaar gelede gevier. Dis alombekend dat prof JD du Toit, of Totius soos hy beter bekend is, een van die vyf eindvertalers van die Bybel is. Wat egter minder bekend...
The early history of car dealers in Potchefstroom
Marrying a man whose first passion is cars, I was immersed in the history of motor vehicles since we met. Hence, the history of the automotive businesses in Potchefstroom interested me. My husband, Hans, and one of his fellow car-enthusiasts, Dr Dennis du Toit,...