Karretjiemense - An interview with Professor Mike de Jongh

Die Prontuit-span van Kyknet het een van die vele unieke groeperinge in Suid-Afrika besoek – die Karretjiemense van die Groot Karoo. Dié nomadiese groep mense se voortbestaan word erg bedreig en slegs enkele van hulle leef nog soos hulle voorgeslagte wat met donkiekarretjies van plaas na plaas getrek het om skaap te skeer en draad te werk. Die groep mense het die dramaturg, Athol Fugard so geïnspireer dat hy, saam met Riana Steyn, sy eerste, en tot dusver enigste Afrikaanse drama, gekryf het. Die Laaste Karretjiegraf, gaan oor die Karretjiemense en het in 2013 gedebuteer. Dis ook deesdae ‘n voorgeskrewe werk vir graad 11-leerlinge. Maar eers gesels ons met die antropoloog, professor Mike de Jongh, wat sonder twyfel die voorste navorser oor die Karretjiemense is. Hy het in 1991 begin met navorsing oor hulle en is steeds daarmee besig.

A Photographic Tour - "Die laaste Karretjiegraf"

Die Laaste Karretjiegraf

Directed by Athol Fugard. The Fugard Studio 2013.

The Lost “Karretjie People” of the Karoo - A Revisit

By GroundUp

One hundred year old former karretjie patriarch Oupa Lodewyk Slinger at his family's new home in Riemvasmaak housing development in Colesberg. His ID book shows that he was born in 1914. After decades of living on the road and migrating with his family on an annual cycle of sheep shearing work, Slinger and the family have settled and received a government house. Oupa Slinger's story is the subject of an upcoming documentary by Timothy Gabb. Photo by Russell Bruns.

Having a Place Called Home is Still a Pipedream for Karoo's Karretjie People

The descendants of the "Karretjie" people of the Karoo are demanding better service delivery from their municipality in the Eastern Cape. They are homeless and have been living at the side of a road for 36 years. And yes they havent moved since the article was posted. Read the article here.

Die Laaste Karretjiegraf - Now in print and in e-book format

The story of the Geduld family, who buries their grandmother Mieta in the Karoo veld and covers the grave with stones, as the karretjie people (sheep shearers who travel from farm to farm with their donkey carts) have always done. Her grandchildren seem destined to end up in the township near Colesberg. Their father Koot used to be the best sheep shearer in the district, but he was jailed for the murder of his second wife. After his release, Sarah, a researcher who interviewed the family years ago, finds Koot. Together they consider the past and future of the karretjie people.

Order from NB Publishers here