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
This is one of only two houses to escape the destruction of Sophiatown by the apartheid government in the late 1950s. It was built in 1934 for Dr. Alfred Bitini Xuma, a highly qualified medical practitioner, and named Empilweni. He lived here until 1959 together with his wife Madie Beatrice Hall, an African American social worker who served as President of the ANC Women’s League from 1943 until 1949.