No signal, a storm and the Springboks: A Karoo weekend with heart
As the old saying goes: 'n Boer maak 'n plan. And when the Boks are playing you make a plan to overcome every challenge — even if it means braving the freezing cold, pouring rain and muddy roads to find the one spot on the Karoo farm with enough signal to watch the game. Like clockwork a mostly dormant WhatsApp group on my phone sprang to life around March.
'Boys, what dates are we looking at?' came the question everyone had been waiting for. It was time for the annual Britzkraal Jagvat — a post-Covid-19 getaway with some friends that grew into an annual hunting trip to the Karoo, complete with its own set of rules and ever-evolving customs.
Every year a good friend, Willem 'Houtbeen' Lombard, invites us to his family farm in the Blue Crane Route region where we spend an extended weekend enjoying the quiet of the veld, catching up with mates around a fire with a few drinks, and hunting an assortment of game in the crisp morning air.
But that first question on WhatsApp was quickly followed by a second, and equally important one: 'Have you checked the Springbok fixtures?'
The majority of the Eastern Cape hunting season coincides with the rugby season, and there were some valid concerns around missing a Springbok Test match. A clash was unavoidable. Some of the guys had to travel from the Western Cape, others had important work or family responsibilities that could not be moved.
Lacking crucial amenities
The only suitable dates fell right on July 6, the first Test match between South Africa and Italy. While the facilities at Britzkraal are more than adequate, it lacks certain amenities crucial for watching international rugby.
Arrangements were quickly made — Gerhard will bring a TV, Tom will bring an inverter — but the elephant in the room (or rather, on the farm) was the biggest concern. Britzkraal lacked one critical component — reliable signal.
Only one spot on the farm has steady signal, and that is the stoep of an old derelict farmhouse, which has become a makeshift shelter for sheep in the cold winter months.
'Guys, don't worry. We'll make a plan,' came the response from Houtbeen.
We had faith in our fearless leader.
Another snag came up in the days leading up to the weekend. Weather reports steadily changed from favourable to stormy, and on the day, as we finished up in the veld to make our way to our soon-to-be open air cinema for the afternoon, the heavens opened up.
Despite being cold and wet, and bordering on miserable, none of us were prepared to give up on the plan. The dirt roads had turned to sludge, and a convoy of bakkies slipped and slid their way down the muddy road to the old abandoned house.
Along the way we found a strange metal contraption, its origin still unclear, and it made for the perfect braai. Before we knew it, Con had a roaring fire going, driving away the cold and misery.
Geo reversed his Navara up towards the stoep. The TV was placed in the back of the vehicle. Geo then carefully selected a flat river rock from a pile nearby to place under the left rear wheel, so that the TV would be perfectly level.
Steady drizzle
With a few taps on his laptop, Houtbeen connected with the TV and we were just in time to watch the men in green and gold sing the national anthem in front of the Loftus crowd as the sun set over the Karoo while a steady drizzle still fell around us.
Kosie quickly busied himself with another Jagvat tradition under the cover of the old house's tin roof, preparing his legendary braaibroodjies which have become a staple meal for our group.
And just as the whistle sounded for the kick-off I found myself with a cold brew in one hand, a toasty warm braaibroodjie in the other, surrounded by my best friends in one of the most uniquely beautiful moments.
And I honestly don't think the Boks would have been able to pull off a 42-24 victory without the support of the team at the Britzkraal Jagvat. DM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
12 hours ago
- The South African
Elton Jantjies goes hunting, posts pictures with dead animal
Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has posted pictures from his first hunting trip on social media, risking ridicule from the public. Image: Instagram @eltonjantjies Former Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has posted pictures from his first ever hunting trip on social media, risking more ridicule from the public. Jantjies, who turned 35 on Friday, 1 August, celebrated by hunting with 'some special people' – as per the caption on his post. Early comments were largely negative. Elton Jantjies was born on 1 August 1990 in Graaff-Reinert in the Eastern Cape. He is a South African rugby union player, best known for his role as a flyhalf for the Springboks, and for the Lions in Super Rugby. Springboks (National Team): Jantjies earned 46 Test caps for South Africa between 2012 and 2022, scoring 331 points during his international career (fifth most for the Springboks). He was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad . Jantjies earned for South Africa between 2012 and 2022, scoring during his international career (fifth most for the Springboks). He was part of the . Super Rugby (Lions): He was a key figure in the Golden Lions and Lions teams that reached three consecutive Super Rugby finals from 2016 to 2018. His attacking flair, kicking accuracy, and quick decision-making were central to the team's success during this period. He was a key figure in the and teams that reached from 2016 to 2018. His attacking flair, kicking accuracy, and quick decision-making were central to the team's success during this period. Playing style: Jantjies was known for his creative playmaking, precise goal-kicking, and calm control under pressure. At his peak, he was one of the most exciting and polarising talents in South African rugby. In 2023 , Jantjies tested positive for Clenbuterol , a banned performance-enhancing substance. , Jantjies tested , a banned performance-enhancing substance. As a result, he was handed a four-year suspension from rugby in January 2024 . in . He did not contest the ban, effectively bringing his professional playing career to a halt. This came after a rocky period that included: Alleged disciplinary issues while in the Springbok camp. An off-field scandal in 2022 involving misconduct on a flight and tabloid reports of an affair. After his suspension, Jantjies transitioned into coaching, joining a Johannesburg-based rugby academy as a kicking and attack coach. He has expressed a desire to use his experience to mentor young players and help them avoid the mistakes he made. You okay with Elton Jantjies posting pictures from his hunting trip? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Carlos Spencer fears for All Blacks' unbeaten record at Eden Park as Springboks await
All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer played touch rugby in Cape Town this week at a Real Madrid Foundation Educational Football Programme and Generation Schools charity event. It's been 31 years since the All Blacks last suffered defeat at their Eden Park fortress. The 23-20 loss to France on July 3, 1994, featured one of the most iconic tries in rugby history, known as 'the try from the end of the world.' That try, scored four minutes from the end of the Test, originated deep in France's own half. Legendary wing and captain Philippe Saint-André started a counterattack, running the ball from 80 metres out. The ball passed through nine pairs of hands in just 27 seconds before reaching fullback Jean-Luc Sadourny, who dotted down. It's still regarded as one of the most beautifully conceived tries in the history of the game. Since that iconic match against the French, the All Blacks have gone 50 matches without defeat at the Auckland venue, with 48 wins and two draws. Former maverick flyhalf Carlos Spencer played in many of those triumphant Tests for the All Blacks between 1994 and 2005, orchestrating some of the team's most remarkable attacking displays. However, Spencer fears that this record could be in jeopardy in 2025, when the world champion Springboks visit Eden Park for the Rugby Championship next month. The Springboks, who have beaten the All Blacks in their last four meetings, haven't played at Eden Park since 2013 and will be eager to make more history under Rassie Erasmus. The teams will meet at Eden Park on September 6, with the second match of that mini-tour to be played in Wellington a week later. While Eden Park isn't a hostile or intimidating venue, Spencer says the history that the All Blacks have built there is always in the back of visiting teams' minds. But he believes the all-conquering Boks could put that record to the test. 'I don't think it's intimidating — it's just the history of Eden Park, the All Blacks not losing a Test match there (since 1994). Teams think about that a lot,' Spencer said during a Generation Schools charity event in Cape Town. 'When you look at where South Africa is at the moment … if there's a team that can break that history, it's the Springboks. And it could happen this year. 'Fingers crossed it doesn't happen!' the former Auckland Blues playmaker added. The Springboks came from behind to beat the All Blacks twice last year at home, extending their winning streak over New Zealand to four matches, including their victory in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris. Meanwhile, the All Blacks started their season with a 3-0 series win over a spirited French side, despite France missing many of their key players.
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
MBDA exiting the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on a path of success
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a dynamic trading operation that requires a predictable environment to thrive. To ensure a multipurpose facility like it works well, it requires investing time in building relationships, technology, maintenance, and getting the right people on board to build an attractive calendar of events and inventory. A lot of what we see today at the stadium is a return on two years of hard work and investment, developing a whole suite of bankable projects and a viable commercial plan. In the 2024/25 financial year that ended June 30, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality had set a revenue target of R14m for the stadium's operations, and not only did the MBDA surpass this, but significantly so to the tune of more than R20m. For accountability, the financial performance of the MBDA is recorded in monthly management reports submitted to the municipality as a compliance requirement. Since October 2024, the stadium has been the focus of national and international attention, whether for the Home of Legends Cup, Nedbank Semifinal, DHL Stormers against RC Toulon, Bafana Bafana playing Ghana, U20 Rugby Championship, or more recently the Springboks Test match against Italy. The fact is, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is buzzing again. It is this buzz that seems to have suddenly caught attention, and as the popular proverb goes, 'failure is an orphan, but success has many fathers'. The Bay stadium is demonstrating signs of success, and it is no surprise then that some are eager to associate with it. What is not apparent to them is that the fruits we see today are the results of two years of planning, canvassing and lobbying by the MBDA management, while maintaining this city's iconic facility with diligence and care. As we prepare to transition out of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, we hold our heads high and it is important that we give account to the ratepayers of the most recent and notable initiatives of the last 12 months. The Test match did not land on our lap; it came through intense background work we did with EP Rugby and supporting the union with restoring and reimagining its relationship with SA's rugby community. Subsequently, this agreement led to a delegation to SA Rugby presenting our case for regular international rugby Test fixtures to return to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Ultimately, this objective was achieved through a shared commercially driven model that was both mutually beneficial not only for Saru and the MBDA, but the entirety of the Eastern Cape province. The MBDA raised direct revenue of R4.4m from the Test match including nearly R400,000 from food and beverage sales as part of the agreed commercial model with Saru. To put this in context, this equates to 22% of the R20m target that the municipality has challenged the MBDA to achieve in this current financial year. The MBDA has already achieved 22% in one month. In addition, the MBDA saved the municipality a whopping R10m Test match hosting fee through smart commercial deal-making led by the executive management. The Test match's economic impact in the city was north of R60m, with every registered hospitality establishment either full or near capacity. The ripple effect was felt in all corners of the Bay, from Gelvandale, Motherwell, to KwaNobuhle, as a record number of mainly youth were gainfully employed during that week. The retail industry also reported a big surge in sales. The positive media coverage tracked is in the millions, stretching to international markets. The image presented is of a Bay venue with the most gees and vibe not seen in a long time. Social media was abuzz, commending the Bay for a memorable experience, thanks to a partnership forged through efforts of the MBDA, EP Rugby and Saru. The successful hosting of the Springbok Test match was an intended catalyst to advance the case for more national and international fixtures to return to the Bay. Currently, we are at an advanced stage in preparations for hosting an Investec Champions Cup match, once again highlighting the proactive approach of the MBDA in attracting major events that have significant economic spin-offs for the city. We exit the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium mindful that the facility has been well-maintained, has improved operations, systems and controls, but most importantly, the people who we have entrusted with this work are the best at what they do, they are resilient and innovative. As evidenced by the upcoming Jazz on the Lake concert, we had started creating our own portfolio of events as a proactive step to close any gaps in the calendar. It is our hope that absorbing the staff of the stadium into the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality does not diminish their entrepreneurial character and creativity. We also hope that those who take charge can only build on the success they are about to inherit as this stadium represents the only hope for economic growth fuelled by mass sporting events in the province. This is why when we took over the stadium in 2017, rebranded it — giving it back to its citizens as #OURSTADIUM. Anele Qaba, MBDA chief executive The Herald
