EERSTERUST
EERSTERUST
I remember how
at first it used to be
a cluster of houses here
a cluster of houses there
Then…
as time went by
they came from all over
Lady Selborne
Claremont
Highlands
Marabastad
and some from forgotten
places
Then we got them from
the Cape
Kimberely
and as far as Upington
From here we bred
The Playboys
The Miracles
Sub-Station
And even e t
proclaiming celebrities like
Lionel Pietersen Richard
Jon Smith and Neville Nash
We've still got our
Manna Jacobs, James
Winkler
Ou Speedo and many more
undiscovereds
And now we are rearing
future cabinet ministers
scientists and politicians
maybe... state presidents
Living in Eersterust
next to none,
is the best place
in South Africa
j mash 08/83
I remember how
at first it used to be
a cluster of houses here
a cluster of houses there
Then…
as time went by
they came from all over
Lady Selborne
Claremont
Highlands
Marabastad
and some from forgotten
places
Then we got them from
the Cape
Kimberely
and as far as Upington
From here we bred
The Playboys
The Miracles
Sub-Station
And even e t
proclaiming celebrities like
Lionel Pietersen Richard
Jon Smith and Neville Nash
We've still got our
Manna Jacobs, James
Winkler
Ou Speedo and many more
undiscovereds
And now we are rearing
future cabinet ministers
scientists and politicians
maybe... state presidents
Living in Eersterust
next to none,
is the best place
in South Africa
j mash 08/83
Eersterust is a suburb east of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, consisting predominantly of so called
"coloured" people, with Afrikaans as the assertive language; next to English.
It is nestled in a valley, between the sprawling township of Mamelodi on the east and Jan Niemand
Park / East Lynne to the west. Its community, like its neighbors, is the victim of the old apartheid system,
where people of color were forced removed from their homes and lands, out of Lady Selbourne,
Claremont, Highlands, Eastwood and Marabastad or 'die Kas', as it was fondly known, and dumped in
this area; initially known as Derdepoort or 'die Poort'. The name Eersterust, only came at a later stage.
The combination of these diverse locations, produced out of Eersterust, a host of prominent pioneers,
ever, out of one community; in the country. Jah Rootsman being only one of them.
Singing celebrities like Richard Jon Smith, Lionel Pieterson and Neville Nash. Crooners like 'Gherro',
(Lionel Margardi) and Ivan 'Mojo', or 'Braddaman' as he was known. Vincent 'Tantie' Julius, Jackie Sticks'
Meyers, Ingle Singh and Bernard (Shoes) Hartze of soccer fame. Actors and play wrights like Speedo,
Robert Pierce, the Strachans, Dot Feldtman (now turned politician), James Winkler. The first black TV
announcer in S.A., Manna Jacobs, followed by Robyn Poole. Groups like E.T., The Miracles, The
Playboys, Jimmy's Band and Substation.
Then there were guys of great intellect like 'Sexy', (Samuel Wapad) who could reason without par.
Ordinary people like Casper 'Biggs' Jeftha who brought circuses, faires and expo's to Eersterust. Oom
George Abrahams, who opened the first ice cream parlour, or yours truly, Johnny Mash, who owned the
first Coffee Bar in Eersterust. Also oom Bobla Jones, oom Awie Holworthy, owner of the famous 'Club
Belair', The first Eersterust 'Mayor', oom Hansie Coverdale, choir masters like oom Bennie Fisher;
Ahbam, teachers like Mr Dewrance, the Veld(t)man's, the Strachans, jeffrou Morris and others.
These are the 'simple folk' who planted the corner stones to the foundation of our community.
The amazing thing out of the more than over fair share of entrepeneurs, world renowkned actors,
artists, poets, authors, playwrights, theological and literate doctors and ministers from out of
Eersterust, our latest progeny deals in the high technology of the times. Raising the bar to a higher
level of creativity. They have become the webmasters and the webhosts of the internet. They are the
profiles on youtube, facebook, twitter, starstruck and the controllers of Mxit and SMS's.
After the turbulence of the heydays of skurminkilism, gangsters and hooligans; the days of wanton
shootings and killings, Eersterust, like most other urban areas; where most people only want to be
allowed to live a peaceful life of their choice, tries to mature but the criminals are now replaced by 13
to 18 year old kids, who crisscross in and out of jail. Not forgetting that the crime factor is as prevalent
as is anywhere in the country.
Through the decades of living together, this 'bushy' community invariably finds itself in the position,
where everyone is somehow related to everyone.
The reflections on this site portray only a minute facet of this vibrant and dynamic 'coloured' community
of Eersterust, with it's rich and diverse traditions and cultures. Although being coloured generally
denotes to the axiom of a melting pot of different race groups and cultures, most people do not realize
that our origin stems far deeper into the annals of history; than the mere, copulation of randy
colonialists with the diminutive maidens of the desert. We are the proud and direct descendants of the
ancient and the antiquated Khoi and the San people. The desert people with their intimate wisdom of
the land. The Bushmen and Hottentot of the Kalahari; the Damaras of the south west and the
indigenous races of the Matabele and the Mashonas. The seed of the Malay slaves from the east with
their curries and spices, the indentured Indians out of India with their silken cloths, the Middle Eastern
Arabs with their diamonds, rubys, emeralds and zealous religion, the native people of the African
continent with their aspiration and zest for life and of course, the Dutch with their gutteral language
and European colonization.
Through our veins, run the sands of the vast deserts and the plains and the caves of Africa, where our
forefathers used to transport the history of the desert people. The trackers and the hunters. The
runners who do not tire. Long before the coming of the seafarers. Long before the guns and the
bombs. In the times when swiftness of the foot, nimbleness of the body and agility of the mind were all
that mattered.
Indeed, it is this rich and colourful so called coloured nation, that represents South Africa in it's entirety
at any given moment. BE JEALOUS.
Enjoy
JOHNNY MASH
"coloured" people, with Afrikaans as the assertive language; next to English.
It is nestled in a valley, between the sprawling township of Mamelodi on the east and Jan Niemand
Park / East Lynne to the west. Its community, like its neighbors, is the victim of the old apartheid system,
where people of color were forced removed from their homes and lands, out of Lady Selbourne,
Claremont, Highlands, Eastwood and Marabastad or 'die Kas', as it was fondly known, and dumped in
this area; initially known as Derdepoort or 'die Poort'. The name Eersterust, only came at a later stage.
The combination of these diverse locations, produced out of Eersterust, a host of prominent pioneers,
ever, out of one community; in the country. Jah Rootsman being only one of them.
Singing celebrities like Richard Jon Smith, Lionel Pieterson and Neville Nash. Crooners like 'Gherro',
(Lionel Margardi) and Ivan 'Mojo', or 'Braddaman' as he was known. Vincent 'Tantie' Julius, Jackie Sticks'
Meyers, Ingle Singh and Bernard (Shoes) Hartze of soccer fame. Actors and play wrights like Speedo,
Robert Pierce, the Strachans, Dot Feldtman (now turned politician), James Winkler. The first black TV
announcer in S.A., Manna Jacobs, followed by Robyn Poole. Groups like E.T., The Miracles, The
Playboys, Jimmy's Band and Substation.
Then there were guys of great intellect like 'Sexy', (Samuel Wapad) who could reason without par.
Ordinary people like Casper 'Biggs' Jeftha who brought circuses, faires and expo's to Eersterust. Oom
George Abrahams, who opened the first ice cream parlour, or yours truly, Johnny Mash, who owned the
first Coffee Bar in Eersterust. Also oom Bobla Jones, oom Awie Holworthy, owner of the famous 'Club
Belair', The first Eersterust 'Mayor', oom Hansie Coverdale, choir masters like oom Bennie Fisher;
Ahbam, teachers like Mr Dewrance, the Veld(t)man's, the Strachans, jeffrou Morris and others.
These are the 'simple folk' who planted the corner stones to the foundation of our community.
The amazing thing out of the more than over fair share of entrepeneurs, world renowkned actors,
artists, poets, authors, playwrights, theological and literate doctors and ministers from out of
Eersterust, our latest progeny deals in the high technology of the times. Raising the bar to a higher
level of creativity. They have become the webmasters and the webhosts of the internet. They are the
profiles on youtube, facebook, twitter, starstruck and the controllers of Mxit and SMS's.
After the turbulence of the heydays of skurminkilism, gangsters and hooligans; the days of wanton
shootings and killings, Eersterust, like most other urban areas; where most people only want to be
allowed to live a peaceful life of their choice, tries to mature but the criminals are now replaced by 13
to 18 year old kids, who crisscross in and out of jail. Not forgetting that the crime factor is as prevalent
as is anywhere in the country.
Through the decades of living together, this 'bushy' community invariably finds itself in the position,
where everyone is somehow related to everyone.
The reflections on this site portray only a minute facet of this vibrant and dynamic 'coloured' community
of Eersterust, with it's rich and diverse traditions and cultures. Although being coloured generally
denotes to the axiom of a melting pot of different race groups and cultures, most people do not realize
that our origin stems far deeper into the annals of history; than the mere, copulation of randy
colonialists with the diminutive maidens of the desert. We are the proud and direct descendants of the
ancient and the antiquated Khoi and the San people. The desert people with their intimate wisdom of
the land. The Bushmen and Hottentot of the Kalahari; the Damaras of the south west and the
indigenous races of the Matabele and the Mashonas. The seed of the Malay slaves from the east with
their curries and spices, the indentured Indians out of India with their silken cloths, the Middle Eastern
Arabs with their diamonds, rubys, emeralds and zealous religion, the native people of the African
continent with their aspiration and zest for life and of course, the Dutch with their gutteral language
and European colonization.
Through our veins, run the sands of the vast deserts and the plains and the caves of Africa, where our
forefathers used to transport the history of the desert people. The trackers and the hunters. The
runners who do not tire. Long before the coming of the seafarers. Long before the guns and the
bombs. In the times when swiftness of the foot, nimbleness of the body and agility of the mind were all
that mattered.
Indeed, it is this rich and colourful so called coloured nation, that represents South Africa in it's entirety
at any given moment. BE JEALOUS.
Enjoy
JOHNNY MASH
Zelik Glyne avenue, on the west bend coming out of Herbert McKenzie avenue
DIVIDED WE FALL
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
| Copyright & copy; Rootsman Productions. 2009 All rights reserved. Website created, owned and updated once a month by Johnny Mash |
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Aweh!! folla ons
seriously innie
nuwe South Africa
seriously innie
nuwe South Africa
