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From: "Becky Horne" <>
Subject: [ZA-EC] Newspaper cuttings from the Eastern Cape - Steytlerville,Part III
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:11:33 +0200


Weekend Post, 1 January 2005.
The Karoo town of Steytlerville is a quaint relic of a bygone age.

Continued from Part II.

Now if digging knee-deep into bone dry soil to unearth two metre long
"boswurms" (bush worms) in an undisclosed area in the veld isn't already
bizarre enough, try grasping the fact that they're sold to fishermen in
an area that receives less than 250mm of rainfall annually. That's like
throwing a line - a pretty lengthy one at that - into a teacup.

"But there is good fishing," assures Danie CRAVEN. And he should know.
He's spent much of his life just outside Steytlerville on the farm
'Noorspoort', like his greatgrandfather and his father before him (he's
a fifth generation settler.) In fact, there is little that Danie,
grandson of the late South African rugby supremo Dr. Danie CRAVEN, doesn
't know about the area. After all, it was his father, George who
established ROEP (Restore our Endangered Platteland) in the 1980s in a
bid to save Karoo towns from becoming hopelessly depopulated.

Danie is continuing his efforts through various ventures, not least his
own stargazing and geology jaunts along with some flag flaunting
efforts. The town is festooned with Steytlerville family crests. It was
Danie who introduced us to Jan's worms.

But through the auspices of Noors-poort Tours, visitors can also try a
shebeen whose sticky, hanging flycatcher is liable to get more attention
than the host's warm beer; listen to a school choir of angelic singers;
admire the efforts of self-help group in a township that won't be able
to use the new flush loos because of a lack of water, and if your timing
is good, marvel at the happenings of an agricultural show.

More to follow.

Best wishes
Becky

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