The name Roodewal originates from the deep red soil of the Brondal Valley, a fertile expanse that has sustained Lowveld agriculture for generations. At the heart of this landscape stands a homestead approaching its centenary, notable for being one of the region’s earliest guest houses.
BOOK REVIEWS
It is appropriate to begin with a declaration of interest: I contributed a chapter on Prynnsberg and supported the publication of this book. That proximity, however, also allows for a fuller appreciation of both its achievements and its limitations.
BLUE PLAQUES
Founded by St Marcellin Champagnat from France in France, the Marist Brothers expanded their Koch Street monastic school to Observatory in 1924. In the 1970s, in defiance of the apartheid government, it became one of the first non-racial independent schools in South Africa. Girls joined the school in 1980 with the incorporation of the Ursuline and Holy Family convents.