Meet the people

Johan Verwey Butcher

“We’re a nice bunch of people here – everybody looks after one another, and the place is quite clean. As a businessman, however, it means you have a limited number of clients. They all queue up for my boerewors!”

Wilma Melville and Jeanita Bezuidenhout Farmers’ wives and flower arrangers

“It’s not all about farming here – I do floral arrangements for functions and weddings, and my daughter [Jeanita] takes care of the admin and finances. The only citrus in my yard is the lemon tree.”

Amanda Johnson Librarian

“I’m from Cradock, an out-and-out plattelander, but here in Patensie the tranquillity, peacefulness and ambience are something special.”

Charlie Malan Farmer

“What I enjoy the most is the beauty of the valley. And the fertile soil. A few years ago there was a scientist who reckoned you could grow anything here except lychees. But that’s a good number of years ago.”