Karoo to Coast race remembers
Langkloof’s early pioneers
Brian Berkman
T
he adage that art imitates life may be
truer than we think especially when
it comes to the people and places in
one of South Africa’s most cherished
stories: Fiela se kind (Fiela’s Child). Wolwekraal,
the farm on which the story mostly takes
place, is a Zondagh family farm and the author
Dalene Mathee was a friend of the family. The
Zondagh name is synonymous with the area
of Avontuur on the R62 between George and
Uniondale. Today Zondagh descendants still
farm the area and are one of area’s oldest
suppliers of apples and pears to Tru-Cape
Fruit Marketing.
(puppies) were donated through SA Guide
Dog Association because of monies raised,” he
says.
The 100km off-road route of the Buco Lion’s
Karoo to Coast from Uniondale to Knysna,
which is also supported by Tru-Cape Fruit
Marketing, takes in the R339 which features
the iconic Prince Alfred’s Pass. Many have
called this pass Thomas Bain’s greatest work.
Bain tackled the forested valleys and steep
The region’s unofficial historian, Jimmy
Zondagh, tells me: “Dalene Mathee mentions
Petrus Hendrik (Piet), my great, grandfather
in her book. Most of us in this area today
farm on Avontuur which was shared among
his descendants. Our family today lives on
Belle-Vue which is also where Piet Zondagh
is buried”, he says adding: “My father was
Matthys Petrus (Matt) who farmed here but
also operated a post-cart service between
Avontuur and Mill River in the direction of
George. This is the bugle that he blew when
the post-cart approached.”
Jimmy Zondagh has a treasure trove of
memorabilia and an amazing collection of
vintage cars and old agricultural equipment.
Jimmy and his wife Magdel were among
those who started a fund-raising event which
today, in its 20th year, is The Karoo to Coast
MTB, and which has contributed significantly
to Sightfirst, the South African Guide Dog
Association and other urgent needs in the
community. “4307 cataract operations in
the Southern Cape have been paid for by
the Karoo to Coast funds and 60 guide dog
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
Jimmy Zondagh with the bugle his father
blew to alert incoming mail.
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