Affenrucken Today!

[Michael Alexander]

Here are a few snaps taken recently of the abandoned Affenrucken complex.... as some of you might know, the mine will not be demolishing the place, just removing all the scrap... and then Nature Conservation will be using the place as a future Tourist Info centre.... I will also post a few of Malcolm's Pics, from the good old days, just so that you can grasp the difference....

[Michael Alexander]

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[Michael Alexander]

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[Michael Alexander]

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[Michael Alexander]

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[Michael Alexander]

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[Lance Olivier]

Working for the Mine Building Maintenance Dept. in the early 80's, as an Appie, the hostels were obviously part of our maintenance schedule. The artisans I worked for at the time, took it on themselves to a certain extent, to get the swimming pool at Affenrucken hostel up and running as it was in a sad state of disrepair. Not too long and too short and there was a little oasis in one of the remotest of the hostels. At that time there were a lot of baboons in the Affenrucken area and the bliksems would take the discarded stale bread from the hostel and dip it in the pool to soften it before eating. Next day bread crumbs floating all over the pool surface. Great innovation on their part at the time but most probably the baboons have moved on now as they have no water to dunk their bread. 

[Michael Alexander]

I believe the Baboons are still there.... they now use the water from the spring there..... the bread might be a problem though!

[Gordon Brown]

they living below the breadline unfortunately

[keith ager]

Hi, I remember Affenrucken well, I worked for mine maintenance looking after the hostels and services. In the the early eighties a talented chef called Rene Soum worked at the mess in Affenrucken, the food was so stunning guys would drive all the way from Uubvlei for lunch!. Rene ended up as chef at the Hexen Kessel. I also kept the swimming pool in top condition even tho there were only a few contractors based there. Occasionally on arrival at the pool I would find a group of baboons lounging around the pool- I kid you not!.
All this of course before the Central Kitchen took over the catering for the mine.
All the best,
Keith Ager

[Lance Olivier]

Hi Keith. That's about the time I was referring to. I was working with Geoff Quinton at the time. Nice to hear from you.

[Malcolm Bertoni]

I know Geoff Quinton - he's now living in Western Australia, in Aus.  We met in 85/86 at Argyle Diamond Mines where John Mack was the Plant Sup.  We started chatting and lo and behold he was from Oranjemund.
We are still in touch.  It's a small world.

I can tell you a few stories about the swimming pool and babbons as well - but you'll have to read my book (drum roll for self-promotion).

Malcolm

[Andre Coetzee]

I lived in Oranjemund from October 1969 till July 1987.
The name of the photo is missleading as the photo was taken after 1981.
You will clearly see that the last part build at the school is vissible on the pic - that "new" section that was built on the sportsfield/ and where Christmas tree was held, was built in 1980 and finished off in 1981 just in time for our
Std 5 class to start using that classrooms.

Andre

[Tamara Hogan]

How long has it been deserted? There dose not seem to be much sand in the buildings yet.
I remember going to CalmansKop and each year there would be more sand in the unmaintained buildings.

[Michael Alexander]

Sorry, Andre' , which one of the photo's are you referring to?