Koos Polony keeps them coming back

NAMAQUALAND may be famous for its diamonds and flowers, but the main attraction in Kleinzee is a meat magician called Oom Koos Polony.

Named after his signature product — a polony factory he once owned in Cape Town — Koos Coetzee has succeeded against all odds with his restaurant at the Kleinzee Golf Club. His steaks and droëwors are famous from Pofadder to Pretoria. Fans include diplomats and the top brass of diamondmining company De Beers.

Despite the near extinction of the town, whose population has dropped to fewer than 500 people, Coetzee still does a roaring trade from the golf club kitchen where he and his wife, Anna, set up shop six years ago.

Koos & Anna se Kombuis was started after Coetzee was retrenched from the local Kwikspar, where he had run the butchery.

“I was asked if I was interested in making food for people here at the golf club. I said yes,” he said.

“Nobody has ever complained about my steaks.”

His secret is cooking on hot coals and using quality meat from Kimberley.

“I once had the De Beers general manager eating here for a month. He asked me how come my steak is so soft when in Joburg it is so tough. I told him it’s all about knowing where to buy your meat.”

Kleinzee people believe that Coetzee has helped the town to survive since the mine closed. “Without him we wouldn’t have anywhere to go,” said builder Hilton Beukman.

Kleinzee tourism office manager Sandra Blake said Coetzee was always willing to feed visiting guests at short notice. “I’ve often had to pounce on him to help and he just makes a plan. No matter what,” she said.

Coetzee believes that Kleinzee will be successful because its residents work hard.

“If a person wants to work hard, they can make a success. They must be proud to walk in the streets.

“I am proud that when I walk in the street, people say: ‘There walks Koos Polony.’ ”