As part of the Paul Greyling Primary School’s Land Service programme in Vishoek, 17 learners and 4 facilitators embarked upon a comprehensive cultural historical tour in the unique Strandveld region of the Western Cape.
“The programme included visits to the various historical mission communities and churches, the local abalone and fishing industries as well as interviews with the curators of the significant and rich history of this special region,” said Andre Engelbrecht, Headmaster of Paul Greyling Primary School.
A highlight of the tour was a visit to the Strandveld museum and its curators, Jan and his wife, SD Fourie. Jan and SD spent their life in the Strandveld and with a passion for history, are the guardians of this treasure of our region’s history. The learners were treated at the Fourie residence to a traditional Strandveld meal of bean and mealie soup (called “Sag instap”) served with freshly baked “vetkoek” prepared by one of the Strandveld’s matrons. The “vetkoek” was complimented by traditional sour fig jam and typical Strandveld hospitality.
The learners visited the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai, where they donated materials used to provide penguins with nesting material. During the visit they also had the opportunity to witness the dissection of a shark that had washed out after being killed by an Orca. This was the fourth case in the past year in this region and is of great concern to the great white shark viewing industry in the coastal towns of Gansbaai and Kleinbaai.
As part of the shipwreck history, the Agulhas- and Dangerpoint Lighthouses were visited. The region’s rich history of shipwrecks provided for an exciting new body of knowledge for these fortunate learners.
This region’s role in the commercial whale trade industry was also explored when the learners visited the Whale museum in Hermanus.
The cultural history of the region was explored in the Klipgat caves in De Kelders and the Waenhuiskrans caves. The ruins of a Khoi kraal were visited and the fish traps built by the Khoi San at Agulhas was witnessed and explained to the learners.
As part of the Land Services’ commitment to service to fellow man, the Agulhas safe house for children was visited. Here the learners had interaction with the woman and children, played games and handed over much needed supplies.
