First and foremost: this is no racist article—so far from it. I am just astonished at the creativity, positivity and conviviality of some white people in South Africa. Amidst the ugly politicking, the bad governance and the poor service delivery, some white people are still able not only to remain positive, but to organise or support events that can make South Africa and the lives of its citizens significantly much better.
THE RHODES BEIT BAILEY (RBB) FARMING SYNDICATE IN THE NUWE HANTAM, COLEBERG.
A FARM MANAGER’S SUNDRY PACK OF SIX MEMORIES
The final toverview archive instalment of estate farm manager Morton Banes-Webb’s memoir in retirement, on the Rhodes Beit Bailey (RBB) syndicate of some 45 farms in the nuwe hantam district of Colesberg, in the very early 1900’s, is a fascinating grouping of a number of topics, jointly headed SUNDRY, and concealing a range of information and surprises to do with the land and things upon and around it. Here Maeder Osler sets out the memoir’s six pack of sundry selected items, for much consideration.
By Phakamisa Mayaba
Forget Ramaphosa or the GNU, it has been an unlikely Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of a minority party, who has unexpectedly found his name thrust into the national political discourse.
The 2026 Budget Speech for once will have a positive backdrop across four key dimensions
Nonetheless, a substantial fiscal challenge remains, with an elevated interest burden, persistent spending demands and economic growth rates that are still too low to ensure long-term debt sustainability.
A WAENHUIS WELCOME TO STORY TELLER, DAVID MULLER
17 October 2025. By Maeder Osler.
I’m told that us wise humans (homo sapiens) deserve better to be known as the species homo narrans – that is, story-telling humans.
And now, to fit this version of ourselves, here comes a distinguished example to this very grassy karoo waenhuis and Umsobomvu municipal area of the nuwe hantam ward, a one man band story teller entertainer, David Muller: in early November, fresh from the Groot Marico Bushveld and the Kwa-Zulu Natal midlands..
How I do miss stoeptalk, especially on ‘farming’, now that I have sort of reverse-semigrated into an aged retirement bubble as a tenant at Somerset West in the Cape. Even so, I am rediscovering much stoeptalk, also on farming: because I am lucky to be as alive as you are; reading.
One major salvation here is reflected – admittedly some 125 years later, and on a different scale - from an extract of a toverview donor’s nuwe hantam archive. This, recorded on farming around 1904, is bequeathed in the Rhodes/Beit/Bailey (RBB) syndicate by farm manager, Morton William Barnes Webb’s memoir - headed, simply, FARMING.
Keeping tabs on what toverview holds of the fascinating Rhodes Beit Bailey (RBB) syndicate in the new hantam area of present day Umsombomvu local government area here is a memoir paragraph, headed VELD, conveying observations of the RBB syndicate farm manager, Morton Barnes Webb. These, in turn,
Nuts & Bolts 2026 Garden Route Rally
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First and foremost: this is no racist article—so far from it. I am just astonished at the creativity, positivity and conviviality of some white people in South Africa. Amidst the ugly politicking, the bad governance and the poor service delivery, some white people are still able not only to remain positive, but to organise or support events that can make South Africa and the lives of its citizens significantly much better.