Thomo thanks for this article, really enjoyed it. My late dad in law grew up with Gerts dad and it they come from Griekwastad to be more spesific in Kimberley area. Every country town in SA have one spesicfic tough tough Boer family , those that will fasten their pants witha Pofadder and will practise their hunting shots on their wifes high heels when they open the farm gates. Vioolsdrif have the Beetse, Klawer the Adriaanse, Beafort Wes the Nigrinis and Griekwastad had the Smals. Gert was a tough as nail flanker on his day but never thuggies, Francois Louw remind me a lot to his play these days. He however stripped his moer once on the rugby field and that was when the Cavaliers visit here. Remember him floor poor Gary Knight with one blow, my laaitie tell me when he hit a 4 in cricket the ball come from the sweet spot of his bat and Gary tasted Gerts sweet spot of his fist from Griekwastad. He was so upset after the ref binned them both he nearly repeat his faith while they were both in the bin. Wish I can watch that incident again.
Anyway interesting the language one. Myself found out for the first time when I visited the Milleneum Stadium in 1999 the Druids and Iere and Skotte have their own taal. A pitty they dont talk it.
