A toast to Krynauws

Nostalgic thoughts

The farm, Rietkloof, was the heart of the Krynauw family. It was on Rietkloof that a Republic was proclaimed, with Oupa Pieter as the honorary president, and the nephews and nieces sang:

“Our honor, our honorary President
Is well known here at Rietkloof…”

Uncle Stephen and Auntie Sophie were like magnets—warm, hospitable, and deeply beloved.

Lamps and candles lit the nights, and water had to be carried in buckets.
The threshing floor was busy with winnowing wheat.
Instead of rice, wheat was served. Oh, how I long to eat wheat again.
And the pure white butter, churned right there on the farm—along with delicious goat’s milk.

Sheep slaughter was a major event, as was soap-making.
Gert and Tempus were the cart horses, while Coffee was one of the donkeys.

There was a rock against the mountain—if you struck it with another rock, the sound echoed like a church bell ringing.

A cave nearby had water dripping constantly, forming a small stream that was collected. One day, Pip Conradie and I visited the cave, armed with an air rifle. A few chervils arrived to drink at the pond. I shot one—and regret it to this day. However, I am still proud of the buzzard I shot in the orchard; Uncle Stephen was delighted when he saw the dead buzzard.

Pip and I once encountered a lynx in the field and killed it, feeling quite accomplished. But when we showed Uncle Stephen the lifeless lynx, his disappointment was evident. Ultimately, Old October was the one who slaughtered the lynx.

Sitting on the stoep with the uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and Oupa and Ouma Krynauw was always a wonderful experience. All the country’s problems seemed to be solved in those discussions. Hans van Rensburg, the O.B. leader, was a frequent topic, along with the Second World War and the Russian Bear.

On full moon nights, some of the nephews and nieces went for a walk with Aunt Janet, while others walked with Aunt Inez. We listened to wonderful stories and sang together.

My brother, Pieter, and my sisters, Ansie and Marina, and I got to know the family at Rietkloof well. Pieter later became an advocate, LPR (Member of the Provincial Council), and LV (Member of Parliament).

Aunt Edie and Uncle Koos Basson from Paarl had children—Annatjie, Ester, and Johan, whom we always called Apools.

Then there was Aunt Agnes from Mochudi. I still vividly remember all her stories from Mochudi.

I never knew Aunt Bessie, as she passed away on 2 April 1935. Her son, Quintus, was often at Rietkloof. I believe his baptismal name was Joshua.

Uncle Pieter and Aunt Lenie, along with their son, Pieter, lived in Alberton, possibly at 41 Bergweg. We always called Uncle Pieter “Pet.”

Aunt Anna and Uncle Stephanus were deeply involved in the Ossewabrandwag movement. Uncle Stephanus had a shop in Beaufort West, and I recall that the Commandant-General of the O.B. once spent the night at their home. Dr. Hans van Rensburg and I slept in the spare room. Uncle Stephanus and Aunt Sophie were brother and sister.

Uncle Jim and Aunt Susie came from Heidelberg (Cape) with their children, Pieter, Nina, Japie, and Annatjie. Both were teachers and owned a Ford.

My father’s sister, Aunt Margery, and her husband, Uncle Hoffie Conradie, also worked in education and lived in Witbank. I knew Villieria, Pieter (Pip), and Bets well because I spent many school holidays with them.

Aunt Lenie was also a teacher. Her son, Pieter, later became a school principal. I believe he was the first Krynauw to earn a doctorate.

Aunt Inez taught in Paarl and drove a Chev, while Aunt Janet was the principal of the Girls’ High School in Oudtshoorn and had a DKW for years.

The youngest of the Krynauws was Uncle David, who married Aunt Antoinette. Their children were Pieter, the well-known banker, Antoinette, Annemarie, and Hubert. Uncle David initially worked as a lawyer before entering the seminary.

With so many in education, there were frequent debates and concerts. The nephews and nieces, without even realizing it, were taught how to speak in front of an audience.

And everyone could sing beautifully. Evening church services were particularly special, with Grandpa Pieter still praying in High Dutch. Uncle David led the services on Sundays; he served as a minister in Wynberg and Parys, among other places.

During summer, the nephews would sleep under the fig trees.

There was a fountain with clear, clean water, and a pond covered in green mud.

The family dogs were Wagter, Christine, and Wolf.

The oldest of the nephews and nieces, Pieter Hendrik, was born on 18 November 1918 and married Susie (Susan) van Graan. Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sophie’s other children included Andries, who married Elra but sadly passed away some time ago. Piet and Andries’s younger brother, Stephanus, now lives in Pretoria.

In earlier years, my grandparents, Oupa and Ouma Krynauw, lived in Hill Street in Beaufort West. In their backyard stood an outhouse and stables.

Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sophie’s two horses always stayed in the outhouse when Uncle Stephen and his family came to town. In later years, he bought an old bakkie called Sallie. I remember that my brother, Pieter, and I slept in the outhouse, and that Andries likely woke us up at half-past three in the morning. Then Tempus and Gert were harnessed. Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sophie sat on a bench in the front, while Pieter and I rode in the back. Remember how cold it can get in the Karoo!

On the way to Rietkloof—past the motel in the direction of the airport, with Lemoenfontein on the left. A little further on, you turned left toward Rietkloof. Below the mountain, possibly De Jagerspas if I remember correctly, the horses had to rest. We drank coffee and had something to eat. I can no longer recall exactly how far Rietkloof was from Beaufort West, but I estimate around 35 miles. Once through the pass, you had to turn right to reach Rietkloof. A pole stood there where the mailbag was hung.

On New Year’s Day, the donkeys were harnessed, and two armchairs were placed on the cart for Grandma and Grandpa Krynauw. Farmers from the surrounding area gathered at Heuningneskloof on that day. October 10 and December 16 were also celebrated together.

The Conradies of Witbank

My uncle Hoffie and aunt Margery taught in Witbank. They owned a dairy on a smallholding a few kilometers outside town, in Klipfontein.

They had three children: Villieria, Pieter, and Bets. Pieter and I were the same age. He later became a minister and retired in Marble Hall in 1995. Bets married the Reverend Kosie Barnard.

I visited the Conradies every December during the school holidays, and it was a great experience for us two boys to help with the dairy.

One year, a striking young man walked in, and Pieter and I immediately liked him. He was slightly older than us—I believe he was Shangaan. Uncle Hoffie offered him a job and explained his duties and wages.

The following year, when I returned to Klipfontein, Pieter and I heard a terrible commotion in the milking parlor one day. We ran over—only to find that the Shangaan man appeared to be on the verge of attacking the gentle-natured Oom Hoffie.

It turned out that Oom Hoffie had told him how pleased he was with his work and that he would be increasing his salary. The young man then asked what extra duties he would need to take on. When Oom Hoffie explained that no additional work was required, the man became furious:

“But then you’ve been paying me too little for the entire past year!”

A True Story

Esbé and I were newlyweds when my brother, Pieter, joined us for dinner one evening.

Several years later, Pieter told a group of relatives that the most delicious meatballs he had ever eaten in his life were Esbé’s.

My mother responded with lightning speed:

“Piet, you must have been hungry…”

The silence that followed was so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

The Bible

My parents gave each of us a Bible on our sixth birthday. First, Pieter received his Bible, then me, and later, Ansie and Marina.

Esbé and I continued this tradition with our own children, Danita and Danie.

I liked to call Danita “Dad’s Lallatjie”—just a pet name—but to the rest of the world, she was Danita.

On the front of her little white Bible, I wrote:

“Dear Lalla, this Book will keep you away from sin, or sin will keep you away from this Book. – Mom and Dad.”

I believe Danita was already a school principal in a Boland town when she accidentally left her little white Bible in church one Sunday. Since no one knew who “Lalla” was, the mystery remained unsolved.

The following Sunday, the minister addressed the congregation about the Bible that had been found. Since no one knew who “Dear Lalla” was, he used it as an example throughout his sermon, expressing his hope that the Bible would not only keep Lalla away from sin—but the entire congregation as well.

Uncle Willie Krynauw

My grandfather, Pieter Hendrik Johannes Krynauw, was born on 26 June 1861 and married Anna Maria Retief de Villiers on 24 May 1886 in Beaufort West. She was born on 20 October 1863.