One of Benoni’s pioneers, Joe Civin celebrated his 99th birthday on September 17 in Morningside with family and friends.
The Rynfield resident welcomed his 99th birthday at the home belonging to a property developer, Jonathan Beare, who flew in from London to attend the milestone achievement.
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Farrarmere resident, the administrator of the Benoni History – Now and Then Facebook page and friend of Joe, Glynis Cox Millett-Clay, shared some history about the pioneer.
Joe was born in Johannesburg but his father, Harry Civin, was born in Jerusalem and came to Benoni with his family in the early pioneering days.
In 1912 Harry’s father, Jacob Civin, started a transport business in New Modder – repairing and selling shoes and bicycles.
He opened a bicycle shop on the corner of Voortrekker Street (originally Fort Street) and Cranbourne Avenue and called it “Civin and Sons” – the first in the town.
Harry’s first passion was to become an artist and sculpturer but in 1915, he gave up the idea to help run his father’s cycle shop with his brother Meyer.
They then started trading in motorcycles and motor spares and in 1940, they were joined by Joe when they entered the used-car market.
In 1946, just after the Second World War, Civin and Sons obtained the franchises for Nash, Skoda and Vanguard and Princes Garage, and they were then firmly established on the motoring map.
Joe saw a picture of the Volkswagen Beetle on the front cover of Time Magazine and thought that it would be a perfect people’s car for South Africa.
He made a few enquiries and heard that Baron Klaus-Detlof Von Oertzen from Germany represented VW in Johannesburg.
Baron admired Joe’s interest in the VW Beetle and in 1955, Civin and Sons were granted the Volkswagen franchise.
Apart from his contribution to Benoni, Joe was also the president of the Benoni Chamber of Commerce and Industry (1968 and 1975) and chairman for the Benoni Publicity Association in 1969.
He is still an honorary member at the Benoni Country Club.
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