Struwwelpeter leaves behind many gems

By Rolf Uys

WHO exactly is “Struwwelpeter”? According to German children’s literature, he is a boy with long nails and big hair. Best known for misbehaving and being very rebellious.

It is also the pseudonym for Piet Uys, a Kemptonian part-time writer who was also very misbehaving and rebellious with his pen. For 24 years he joked, tred on toes, annoyed, inspired and entertained with his weekly column in Kempton Express.

But sadly that pen has now been laid down. Struwwelpeter passed away quietly on Sunday, August 2, 2015.

I know Kempton Express readers will miss him. The support and condolences from readers have been immense. I will certainly miss my father, but like you, I will also miss Struwwelpeter. I will miss the phone calls to check the facts before publishing. I miss finding the editor’s copy in my inbox on a Tuesday morning.

Also read:

• Mrs Struwwelpeter: ‘I know Piet would want me to thank you’

I miss the philosophical talks on a Sunday afternoon and the suggestions for topics for the next Struwwelpeter. So that’s why I am writing this one last column. To honour Struwwelpeter and to say thanks to the readers for the incredible support over the years.

Struwwelpeter was recently unmasked as being Piet Uys, a Kemptonian who later retired in Somerset West in the Cape. He has a wife and three sons. I am the middle one, also a keen amateur journalist and prankster. A chip off the old block I would like to think.

Let’s go back to 1970 when the Jumbo 747 was launched and the Beatles were letting it be. My father decided that it’s time to come to the East Rand to further his career. He built a house on Aftonwoldway, Kempton Park, and got busy in a career in industrial chemistry and raising his family.

He keenly followed all the happenings and development of his town. He was not afraid to pick up a pen and write to local newspapers on his ideas or views. Most of the time adding a little of his famous dry humour.

In 1973, the editor of the then Kempton News invited him to write a permanent column. He accepted and wrote anonymously as “Turpentine Sally”. This became his hobby and continued for the next three years, after which he had to take a break to focus on his career.

Fast forward to 1994. Kempton News became Kempton Express and was undergoing a revamp. The manager at the time, Han Eybers (who also owned Kempton News), approached my father to write a column again. And that is how “Struwwelpeter” was born.

Struwwelpeter was an immediate hit among readers. Alternating between English and Afrikaans columns each week, he had his say on international politics, the incompetency of the government and the demise of the Kempton Park CBD. This he mixed with witty anecdotes, quotes and jokes. Sometimes he was cynical, sometimes controversial but always colourful. I inherited his Struwwelpeter scrapbook and found these gems that I would like to share:

This piece comes from Struwwelpeter dated January 9, 1997 and just shows that in 18 years not much has changed in our country:

“Struwwelpeter wishes all of his readers a prosperous new year. He hopes that this year will be less traumatic than the previous one. Maybe just maybe this year some of the gravy train passengers in parliament will get eased out in order to make place for more capable people. Maybe the government will stop shooting itself in the foot and crime will decrease. Maybe the rand will stabilise. Maybe SABC will start showing some decent programmes. And maybe pigs will fly. But happy new year anyway…”

Since it is rugby world cup year, how about this one from June 1, 1995, shortly after South Africa’s opening win against Australia:

“The New Zealanders have a saying that Virgin wool comes from a sheep that can outrun an Australian. After the first world cup match, it looks like we now have a team of Virgin Springboks”.

Then also maybe one of his favourite quotes by his favourite author, which is very appropriate to our country these days: “I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.” Winston S. Churchill.

I think his tenure at Kempton Express is best summarised by this quote from the editor of Kempton Express dated June 2, 1994:

“Dat hy mense gaan kwaad maak is verseker. Maar dat hy gaan geliefd raak onder ons lesers, is ook seker…”

Rest in peace father. Rest in peace Struwwelpeter. And do poke a little fun with the folks up there where you are…