Danelda van Graan,
Stellenbosch
I would like to thank all concerned for the very detailed article about the AOI’s new “home”, and how the article shares the history of my family and a bit of the wider community of Die Vlakte (“Institute’s new offices honour first owners of house in Die Vlakte, Stellenbosch”, Bolander Octber 17).
I would just like to make one correction and elaborate slightly on the connection of Rosina Gordon (I am her youngest daughter).
Rosina C Gordon (Sinnie) was the eldest granddaughter of Pieter and Rosina Okkers.
She was a life-long resident of Stellenbosch, and was 89, and had been married for 65 years, when she passed away in 2017.
The correction: the move of Die Vlakte community affected six schools, and the Volkskerk van Afrika Stellenbosch congregation and not the Mosque.
The Mosque of the original vlakte community continued to be a place of worship for Moslems in Stellenbosch.
It was the Volkskerk congregation who had to vacate their place of worship.
Even though the church building was not demolished (currently used by St Paul’s congregation), the neighbouring Volkskerk church hall and primary school buildings were demolished.