Nita de Wet of Molteno writes:

The Andrews family in Molteno are pleased to announce the sale of the Central Hotel in Molteno.

The hotel has been a vibrant role player in the business community of the little town of Molteno for many years since the early 1900s.

Kenny and Rae Andrews, who originally came from the little town of Cala in the old Transkei, bought the Central Hotel in 1962.

Since then, the hotel was developed and run as an extremely successful business by the late Kenny Andrews.

He was mayor of Molteno for more than 20 years and during his tenure, together with Jimmy Kocovaos and the town clerk Piet Moolman, they negotiated the financing and building of the Molteno Dam. This project proved to be very successful and necessary, as it carried the town and its residents through some severe droughts over the years.

Kenny’s pub became a very popular social venue for the businessmen in the area. The stories and the various colourful characters who were regular patrons of the pub certainly added to the exuberant and happy social life in the town.

Renowned artist Johannes Meintjes, together with various sales reps, farmers and business people, spent many a happy hour there.

It has been 58 wonderful years and Rae Andrews has thanked the Molteno public for their support and patronage over the many years.

Hotel staff – Amos Mcunukelwa, Alice Sauls, Veronica Mkwasi and Agnes Rubata – have been quite extraordinary in their commitment and service.

They have all worked at the hotel for well over 20 years and Amos Mcunukelwa has been part of the hotel family for a staggering 52 years. He came in as a young man and was Kenny Andrews’ caddy. From there he moved on to be the barman/manager. Their faithfulness and work ethic certainly needs to be commended.

The new owners of the Central Hotel, Mr and Mrs Swanepoel, are wished every success in their new venture and we hope that they will take the hotel to new levels, in the interest of the special town of Molteno.