Meet the people of Somerset East and surroundings: Part 2


An oasis in the heart of the Karoo Midlands



It is all about the journey when you point your vehicle in the direction of Somerset East.


Take it slow. Stop…and allow the silence to envelope you. Capture the majestic mountains and never ending blue sky on film. Taste the homemade jams and biltong on sale at a quaint farm stall. Admire the shades of green and brown rolling past your window as you drive past sprawling farmsteads and vast sheep and cattle farms. Feel your heart beating in unison with the wild pulse of the Karoo and its even wilder inhabitants. And when you finally enter the picturesque town of Somerset East, allow the tranquillity that radiates from the people, and the area, to set the pace.





Based at the foot of the mysterious Boschberg Mountain, the town is a green oasis in the sometimes harsh “place of thirst” – the Karoo. Along with Cookhouse and Pearston, Somerset East falls within the Blue Crane Route Municipal area.





Established in 1825 by Lord Charles Somerset, it was not only the British who found the town captivating but also the Xhosas, Khoisan, Dutch pioneers and Settlers. Today, the town has various stately heritage sites that whisper the rich history of the area.


Glimpses of the town

Somerset East Museum




Originally erected as a chapel, this lovely building was converted into a Parsonage in 1835 and declared a Provincial Heritage Site in 1972. The Georgian building forms part of the Boschberg Nature Reserve and hosts the permanent exhibition on the 1815 Slagter’s Nek Rebellion.


This beautiful building looks out over the town and is a tranquil picnic place in the summer. Venture inside and find out more about the town’s coloured history, including the story of the Flora Dolls and that of interesting people like John Kepe, better known as ‘Samson of the Mountain’, and Mrs. Dora Jacobs who died at the age of 123. Venture around the back of the Museum and you can have a look inside the Xhosa Exhibition.






The town also boasts several Provincial Heritage sites, most of which can be found in Paulet Street just below the Museum.


Head inside the Somerset Museum and try to find the Biltong Festival’s main sponsor in the pantry…we did!





Walter Battiss Art Gallery





Originally an Officers Mess for British troops stationed on the eastern frontier, 45 Paulet Street has had an interesting history. From private home to hotel, it now houses a permanent exhibition of work by renowned artist, Walter Battiss.


Walter Battiss was also a friend of Pablo Picasso.


Churches





Beautifully constructed churches add to the architectural treasure trove found in Somerset East.


The Angler and Antelope






This four star luxury guesthouse is a beautiful amalgamation of different eras. Amenities of the 21st Century are infused with a friendly, tourist-orientated ambience of yesteryear. A good example of this is the St Francis Culinary Centre, which is an old church, built in 1906. It has character and many a visitor to the guesthouse spends their time in the Centre enjoying traditional fare and chatting to knowledgeable hosts, Annabelle and Allan Hobson.


Allan Hobson also hosts the Trout Fishing Competition at the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival. For more information on the Competition contact Mr. Hobson on: 042 – 243 3440.


Somerset Hotel



Every little town has one - a hotel whose walls whisper stories of the past. This is then also true of the Somerset Hotel, who one night hosted a farmer and…his horse in Room 12 and 13.


The Hotel is also the location for Crazi Dazi, a shop that sells clothing for the uniquely different. For the Biltong Festival its owner, Ilze Dalton, game up with a ‘crazi bag’ that one can use during the Festival.






Surrounded by nature




Typical Karoo veld, indigenous forests, grassveld to rolling savannah plains, the Blue Crane Route is one of the only areas in South Africa that can boast with four biomes in one district.


Somerset East is indeed a little gem in the heart of the Karoo where tourists will not only be able to stroll down charming streets, meet friendly locals, sample some traditional South African fare, but also embrace their ‘wild’ side, by participating in various adrenaline-inspired activities like abseiling, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, gorge glides, 4X4 trails, river tubing and rock climbing. For those who enjoy more relaxed activities Somerset East offers birding, game viewing, camping, fishing, fly fishing and horse riding. Being a town that is so close to nature, it is no surprise that Somerset East annually hosts’ the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival.


If you’d like more information on Somerset East, please visit:
http://www.somerseteasttourism.co.za


You can also contact the Tourism Office:
Ros Turner
Tel: 042 243 1333/6448
Cell: 073 698 6539
Email: bcrm.tourism@lgnet.org.za

Meet some of the people of Somerset East and surroundings: PART 1

A life made of beads

The winding road navigates you through a mosaic of fields. Lush lucerne, never-ending mielies and cattle, goats and sheep grazing on various other agricultural fields contrasts vividly with the bright blue sky above. The tangible silence, that one can really only experience on a farm, enfolds you as you drive towards Kokskraal Handcrafts.

Liza Troskie, owner of Kokskraal Handcrafts

Located on the farm, Kokskraal, this impressively creative business is run by Liza Troskie. It started as a hobby in 2001, but soon grew into a job-creation project for the fifth generation farm workers that reside on the farm. Mrs. Troskie wanted to give back to the people that supports and assists them on a daily basis. With the willingness of the Xhosa-women on the farm to generate an extra income for their families, and an idea to “create a job for each woman on the farm”; Mrs Troskie and her fellow creative enthusiasts, embarked on path lined with…beads.

Beading at Kokskraal Handcrafts

Using their beading talents the women of Kokskraal started with small items like keyrings and beaded handbag jewellery. The business grew steadily, as did the amount of farm workers that wanted to be part of the project. In 2004, Mrs Troskie ventured into marketing her business. Here the assistance of SEDA was invaluable. They assisted her in creating marketing material, and a website from which she could sell the beaded curios and gifts.

Liza Troskie and Sir Richard Branson

The success of Kokskraal Handcrafts was not only being recognized by the local municipality and community, but also by Citigroup and the United Nations. Through SEDA, Kokskraal Handcrafts was entered into the Women Empowerment Category of the Global Micro Entrepreneur Award. Totally out of the blue, Mrs Troskie and her husband, Bertus, were flown to New York where she found out that she won the Global Micro Entrepreneur Award 2005 (awarded by Citigroup and the United Nations). She was also given the opportunity to speak to the UN about investing in Africa and as an added bonus…met Sir Richard Branson at the award ceremony.

porcupine jewellery

… 2010
As of 2010, Kokskraal Handcrafts have diversified their offerings to include beaded toesandals, glass identifiers, beaded flags, serviette binders, beaded tiebacks, candle holders, various porcupine jewellery and beaded decorations to mention but a few. They also supply beaded gifts and curios to over 200 shops in South Africa and export their goods to over 20 countries.

Nonsimphiwe

The employees of Kokskraal Handcrafts were further given shares in the company and essentially they are now working for themselves. This, Mrs Troskie comments, has not only assisted in skills development and in improving the human dignity of the people, but also offers them a chance to create something beautiful that they can be proud of.

Busy with their ABET learning, Nonsimphiwe and Bongiwe

Currently, the business has 10 employees (two of which are male). We spoke to 22-year old Nonsimphiwe who through her involvement in the business not only furthered her education (by completing various ABET courses, but also by becoming an ABET instructor on the farm,) but was also chosen by the Cacadu District Municipality to go to the 2009 Tourism Indaba.

“I learned a lot about small businesses and how to go out and look for clients for our business,” says Nonsimphiwe.

Having lived in the area all her life, Nonsimphiwe learned her craft from her mother. Her favourite product to make is beaded candleholders.

So if you decide to ‘come hang with friends’ at the 20^th Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival, then do take a drive out to Kokskraal and meet Liza Troskie, Nonsimphiwe and the other creative forces behind Kokskraal Handcrafts. You will not only be able to see where they work but also browse in the curios and gift shop.

Kokskraal Handcrafts Curios and Gift shop

For more information on Kokskraal Handcrafts,
please visit www.kokskraalhandcrafts.co.za or
email Liza Troskie on info@kokskraalhandcrafts.co.za

Castle Lager – our venue

Josh Enslin (Castle Lager), Russell Hunt (Castle Lager) and Riaan van der Walt (Somerset Budget)
enjoying some Castle and biltong.


The people behind the Biltong Festival:
Dipti Varghese (Design@Bay – Marketing and Advertising of the Festival),
Russell Hunt (Castle Lager – main sponsor),
Sarina Engelbrecht (Design@Bay – Media liaison) and
Marette Liddell (Blue Crane Route Municipality – Festival organizer).


Biltong Tasting Competition, Lourens Schoemand (Farmer’s Weekly) and Sarina Engelbrecht.


Blue Crane Route Municipality dignitaries having fun!

The 20th Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival was officially launched to the media on the 26th of May 2010. Held at Castle Lager’s Headquarters in Perseverance, Port Elizabeth, the media launch attracted a variety of media as well as guests from the Blue Crane Route Municipality, Cacadu District Municipality and Castle Lager.

Just 180 km from Nelson Mandela Bay, the picturesque town of Somerset East is now preparing itself for the event of the year ‐ the annual Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival. At the Launch, Castle Lager and the Blue Crane Route Municipality representatives, invited young and old to come ‘hang’ with friends and new acquaintances at this year’s Festival. Celebrating its twentieth (20th) year, the 2010 Biltong Festival hopes to harness the excitement and camaraderie of the Soccer World Cup. On this year’s menu, one will find over 300 stalls ‐ ranging from food, curios, outdoor, and product –; entertainment specifically for children, including face painting, Popsie the Clown; and for the more adventurous: paintball, quad biking and fly‐fishing demonstrations. Off‐course there will also be buckets of biltong, like kudu, beef, giraffe, buffalo and chicken, available.

But, the main course of the 2010 Biltong Festival, along with the samplings of biltong and Castle, is the entertainment line‐up for this year’s Festival. Festival enthusiasts can look forward to hearing some of South Africa’s most popular performers such as: SAMA winners Big NUZ, Dozi and Nianell, Gerhard Steyn, Emo Adams and his band, Heinz Winckler, Nadine, Broers and Prime Circle, to name but a few.

Check out the Festival Programme on www.eastcapebiltongfestival.co.za for a full list of entertainers.

Diarise 16 – 17 July 2010 and COME ‘HANG’ WITH US!