Category: Stories (Page 1 of 2)

Carl Johannes Planting – B. Com. LL.B. (Stell) MBA (UCT)

• Born in Durban South Africa & Matriculated at Westville High School.
• Completed B. Com. and LL.B. degrees at Stellenbosch University,
• Qualified as a solicitor with, a large commercial legal practice in Johannesburg (Hayman Godfrey & Sanderson 1967 & 1968) gaining experience in commercial matters, stock exchange listings and litigation. Admitted to the side bar in 1970.
• left the legal profession to do an MBA (at University of Cape Town) 1969
• subsequently worked for six years as a legal, and corporate-finance executive in three different conglomerate groups in Johannesburg (Abercom, Rennies,Calan)
• MD of two large heavy transport companies set up the franchise for Holiday Inns and MACRO in Southern Africa, London Stock Exchange listing, transport operations and corporate acquisitions locally and overseas for Rennies Group and Group Leagl Advisor fro Renniew Transport.
• Managing Director of Hertz ‘Rent-a-Car’ and then Thomas Cook in Southern Africa based in Johannesburg over eight years.
• Went to the UK as the Operations Director of Granada TV Rental in the UK in the early ’80s.
• In the mid-’80s, Carl with his wife Louise, set up, owned and operated Residential Hostels, Nursing Homes and Retirement Villages for the elderly in the United Kingdom and subsequently in Australia for seven years.
• Both the UK and the Australian Nursing/Retirement businesses had major property development aspects to them and required property development expertise
• Held the offices of Chairman and Board Member of Industry Associations in South Africa, UK and Australia viz. Car Rental, Nursing Homes, Retirement Villages, PC Computer User Groups.
• Chairman of the body corporate of a large residential complex (85 homes, 2 swimming pools, two tennis courts, full time manager, with security access system) in Queensland Australia for two years and chairman of one in the UK and now chairman of a new 28 unit development in Cape Town
• Started Computer Gym in Queensland Australia in 1992 with his wife Louise. The concept was based on using mobile units to deliver IT training. We were the first in the world to do this and have extensive experience and expertise in the design and build of Mobile Learning Centres in 4 countries. The first individual franchise was granted in 1995. They won the ‘Franchisor of the Year Award’ in 1996 and again in 1997 in Australia. The business expanded to the UK, Ireland and Singapore where Master Franchises are operated and the Australian operation was sold to a Master Franchisee.
• Computer Gym, in the UK was a substantial computer training business operating with mobile learning centres. It also ran very large Government Funded Training Programmes throughout the UK Has ISO 9001 Quality Assurance system, IIP (Investors in People) and many highly respected accreditations for learning and training. Won the Daily Telegraph Small Business of the Year Business sold in 2010 to a group company of Anglia Ruskin University
• Owned and ran several major property developments in the UK –
• renovated a 6 storey Grade II listed Georgian Building with 9 flats near Waterloo Station,
• Built and sold 6 flats and 3 houses near Guys Hospital – London Bridge,
• Partner in building a luxury large house (17,000 sq ft) in St George’s Hill Weybridge in Surrey
• In 2012 developed & sold 3 penthouse flats on the roof of a block of flats in Sutton in Surrey
• Away from work Carl used to enjoy marathon running (Ran Comrades Marathon (90 km) 3 times, Two Oceans & Korkie (56 km) 5 times and many marathons & half-marathons) & London marathon, played league hockey for 18 years, classical music, bridge, travel, computers and Freemasonry (England, South Africa & Australia – 5 orders) and has taken up oil painting in 2016.
• Carl and Louise (who was at Stellenbosch – Louise Enslin and now has a PhD) have four children and nine grandchildren (all of whom are in Australia) – our oldest son is 50 and our oldest grandchild 20. Moved to Cape Town from UK in late 2015 and loving it.
• They have multiple passports and citizenships (South African, British, Australian, Irish & Dutch) and speak several languages and travel regularly between the UK, Australia and South Africa.

My storie is hier. Klik om oop te maak.

Foto 1

Foto 2

Ten einde ‘n mondeling vry te spring, moet ek dan seker ook maar iets bieg.

Nadat ons einde 1966 op die Bos graadgevang het, moes ek eers my (uitgestelde) 9 maande militere diens afhandel. ( Basiese opleiding  op Oudtshoorn en daarna 2 “pips” gekry en by Leerhoofkwartier in Pretoria krygsrade en ander regswerk gedoen.)

Vanaf Okt 1967 het ek vir 2 jr op Cecil J. Rhodes se koste in Oxford, Engeland gaan studeer. Tydens hul lang vakansies (slegs 24 akademiese weke per annum) baie gereis in Europa, Noord-Amerika en die Midde-Ooste. Darem ook tyd gemaak om in Oxford rugby en krieket te speel en met ‘n Engelse nurse uit te gaan. Het BA Honours in Jurisprudence vermag, wat ‘n paar jaar later toe sommer vanself (maar teen betaling van 10 pond) ‘n MA (Oxon) geword het.

Weens Staatsdiensverpligtinge was ek vanaf Sept 1969 vir iets meer as 2 jr by Dept Justisie . Eers staatsaanklaer by Kuilsrivier Landdroshof (waar ek ene Helena van Eeden ontmoet het toe sy afslag kom vra het vir ‘n spoedkaartjie), daarna by Streekhof Kaapstad en ten slotte Staatsadvokaat by die PG in Kaapstad. Daardie dae ook klubrugby gespeel vir Van der Stel en Tuine en nog vir jare daarna steeds sosiale rugby vir Tuine se Cavaliers en sosiale krieket vir die Scorpions op Stellenbosch.

Ek was onseker of ek Balie of Sy-Balie toe moes beweeg en het besluit om in elk.geval eers vanaf Jan 1972 my leerklerkskap te doen by Jan S. de Villiers en Seun (nou Werksmans) in Kaapstad. Daar het ek toe vasgeval, eers as PA en toe vanaf 1966 tot 2000 as Vennoot in die Litigasie-afdeling. Het hoofsaaklik Versekeringswerk gedoen, veral MVA.

In 2000 (op 55 jr) maak ek toe ‘n loopbaanskuif en gaan uiteindelik tog Balie toe. Tot my aftrede in 2010 (op 65 jr)  het ek vreugdevol as Advokaat gepraktiseer by die Kaapse Balie. (Algemene regswerk, maar met spesialisasie in Persoonlike  Beseringsreg.)

In 1974 is ek met die spoedoortreder Helena van Eeden getroud. Sy slaap steeds langs my. Ons het 4 kinders (2 seuns en 2 dogters}, alvier graduandi van die US en woonagtig binne maklike bereik van ons in die Kaap. Wanneer die jongste dogter volgende maand trou, sal hul almal geholpe wees. Daar is reeds 7 kleinkinders, maar die produksielyn is nog oop.

Ons woon sedert 1977 gelukkig in Kampsbaai, met Tafelberg agter ons en die see voor ons. Ek mik egter terug na my Stellenbosse geboortegrond waar ons reeds ‘n plek so halfpad tussen Owen en Poen het.

Ek is op hierdie stadium nog hinderlik gesond (Louis van H. se ortopediese seun het net 2 keer ligweg aan my kniee geskaaf), maar jy moet maar harderig praat as jy wil he dat ek jou moet hoor. Helena het haar eie agenda, maar ek hou my besig met baie lees, gholf speel (vir eie genot en ander se geldelike voordeel), leunstoelsport beoefen, fliek, teater, lesings bywoon oor alles en nog wat, familienavorsing, reis, kampeer, voels kyk en fotografeer (al byna 700 Suider-Afrikaanse spesies ge-“tick”), soms artikels vir koerante en tydskrifte skryf oor goed wat my interesseer, soms die grasperke sny, met die kleinkinders verkeer, by ons strandhuis op Franskraal kuier …. en wag dat Dawie Uys my nooi om te kom jag.

Mits ek Afrikaans mag praat, sien ek julle die naweek op Stellenbosch.

In 1967 I made the mistake of not getting out of doing my military service and ended up as MLO at Voortrekker Hoogte which, it turned out, was probably safer than flying Cessnas in the bush. There, I was privy to information that when you do your military service in a PF unit you only needed to do one year’s service and was glad to escape.

Then I joined the Cape Bar after reading in Chambers with Werner Vivier who had taught us the Rules of Court at U.S. (Which I must say I had found so boring they were Oh so difficult to remember.)

After about 6 very interesting and exciting years at the Bar which I really cherrish I decided to see how the world really works and went into Broking property. Ended up with my own business in Somerset West and have possibly sold more properties in Somerset West in my lifetime than any other individual. In this way I figured I sort of specialised in putting deals together rather than taking them apart.

I have had a wonderful life with lots of travelling and adventure. Fishing…( In those early days we camped almost permanetly on the dunes next to the slip at Massbaai, Hangklip), Skindiving and Scubadiving, Racing Yachts (Took part in the very first Double Cape Yacht race from Gordons Bay to Cape Town and back in September in a 24′ Sweet Pea!), Gliding , (which I started again when I was over 60 years old. ) Now I am concentrating on doing Oil paintings ( and am excited I have at last finally started to be quite good at it) , and of course I’ve had lots of other exciting fun.

It has been a privilege to have lived my whole life here in this lovely Boland Mediteranean Fynbos region.

I married Ethne whom I met while at Stellenbosch ( We since divorced) and we have 2 children. Heinie is CEO of a business in the computer world in Munchen and Caron is an occupational Therapist in Rome, Georgia USA, married with Krige Schabbort the Olympic Paraplegic Marathon athlete. My successful twin brother Hans has also made his life in the USA. So unlike some of you who have all your family here I have no direct family left here, which I do miss.

I am looking forward to our reunion.

Those years at Stellenbosch were so wonderful I rememberI found myself thinking I should perhaps fail so I could spend just another year there!

My painting of Silhouette Island from the Dive School at Beau Vallon Bay

George het my geinspireer om ook kortliks my storie te vertel. Ek het direk na LLB op Alexandria in die Oos Kaap gaan article aangesien my plan was om prokureur en boer te wees. Op die ou einde was ek nog prokureur nog boer. (My vrou Mari se ek sou in elk geval ‘n vrot boer gewees het aangesien ek nie van tuinmaak hou nie). In Julie 1969 is ek ‘n Senior Lektoraat in Handelsreg by UPE aangebied wat ek aanvaar het. Na ‘n jaar daar het Stellenbosch se Dept Handelsreg (in die Handels Fakulteit) my ‘n Senior Lektoraat aangebied.

In 1978 het ek my doktorsgraad in Arbeidsreg verwerf en is kort daarna by die Regsfakulteit  aangestel. Dit was vir my ‘n groot eer om kollegas te kon hê wat vroëer my dosente was. Ek het oor die jare Arbeidsreg, Maatskapppye, vennnootskappe, trusts,  belasting en boedelbeplanning doseer. Daarna het ek my professoraat verwerf en het op sestigjarige ouderdom afgetree nadat ek 13 jaar Dekaan was. As Dekaan het ek op meeste komitees van die Universiteit gedien oa as Senaatsverteenwoordiger op die Raad van die US. Na aftrede het ek nog ‘n paar joppies gedoen en is tans nog ‘n Raadslid van die DA op  die Stell Munisipaliteit.

Ek en Mari is middel 1968 getroud (sy was die meisie wat ek in my finalejaar ontmoet het). Ons het drie kinders wat almal getroud is. Marthinus woon op Stellenbosch en werk in die Kaap, Pieter is ‘n fondsbestuurder in Londen en Katrien boer in Windhoek distrik waar haar man ‘n bankier is. Ons het 9 kleinkinders wat vir ons ‘n verskoning bied om dikwels te reis (en ook te jag).

Sien uit om julle Vrydag te sien.

Ons twee seuns en hul vrouens aan die regterkant en ons dogter (in groen) langs haar man.

Ek het ‘articles’ in Kaapstad gedoen (1967/8) en het aan die begin van 1969 by Cliffe Dekker en Todd (nou Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) in Johannesburg aangesluit. Ek het op 1 Maart 1971 `n vennoot geword en was vir meer as dertig jaar by hulle.

Sedert Februarie 2000 bly ons op Erinvale, Somerset Wes. Ek praktiseer nie meer nie, maar is nog omtrent voltyds besig. Ek kry aanstellings as arbiter en tree op as konsultant vir kliënte – meestal te doen met konstruksie – en ingenieursgeskille, `n veld waarin ek al vir baie jare spesialiseer (ek het in 1969 my eerste arbitrasie gedoen en Oud-Regter Arthur Chaskalson, toe nog `n junior, was ons advokaat).Ek werk van die huis af en my vrou is my sekretaresse.

Ek is in Desember 1966 met Brenda (neè Joubert) getroud, wat ons tyd op Stellebosch was (Latyn en Engels).  Ons het drie kinders gebore in die 70’s , twee dogters en `n seun, twee nou in Amerika en een in Australië, en net twee kleinkinders.

Ek sien gereeld vir Poen en Prof Dean (en hulle vrouens Linda en Dana), en minstens eenmaal per jaar vir Bill. Ek het oor die jare kontak gehou met Frederick (Freddie) (Professor emeritus) en Julie. Hulle het naby ons in Johannesburg gewoon. Ek het tot redelik onlangs kontak gehad met James (ons klas is trots dat hy dekaan van die Regsfakulteit geword het!)

Die Deans en ons kom`n lang pad saam. Owen was my “best-man” op ons troue en Dana was saam met my vrou in dieselfde klas op skool. Maar pasop vir Dana – sy het eenmaal in `n restaurant `n potjie suiker op my kop omgekeer omdat ek haar te veel geterg het, en sy leef om die storie te vertel.

Die bietjie hare wat ek oor het (meer as Pieter le Roux) is wit, maar ek kan nog maklik my tone sien.

Daar het julle dit. Vrae sal nie toegelaat word nie, tensy dit op skrif en in Engels is.

Vanaf Januarie 1967 tot einde Desember 1967 het ek my staarslening gedeeltelik afgewerk. Eers as aanklaer in die Landdroshof in Benoni,toe aanklaerskursus in Johannesburg en Pretoria en vanaf Julie 1967 as staatsadvokaat in Pitermaritzburg en Durban in die Hooggeregshof.

Vanaf Januarie 1968 tot Desember 1969 het ek my leerklerkskap by die destydse Dyason, Douglas, Muller en Meyer in Pretoria gedoen en in Februarie 1970 is ek toegelaat  as prokreur,notaris en aktevervaardiger. Twee jaar by Derek L. Brugman in Johannesburg as assistent en vanaf Februarie 1973 tot Desember 2000 as vennoot/direkteur by Dyason in Pretoria.

Daarna as “in house”prokureur by Steinhoff Internasionaal tot einde April 2008 toe ek afgetree het. Die laaste 8 jaar woon ek en Linda in Stellenbosch.

Ons is getroud in 1975 en het n getroude seun en ongetroude dogter. Albei het grade op Stellenbosch behaal. Nou sien ek net uit om n dop met julle klomp te maak.

PERSOONLIK

Trou met Maria (Marietie) Stander in 1970 in Kaapstad. (Sy was tot voor aftrede ‘n Senior Lektor ( D Phil) in Maatskaplike Werk, UWK; radio, oorklanking en dramadosent; betrokke by verskeie welsynsprojekte);

Woon in Tamboerskloof, Kaapstad sedert 1967; afgelope 10 jr in Mouille Punt, Kaapstad;

Twee seuns (Adriaan – ortopediese chirurg – getroud met Joanne Lawrence en Konstant – Kreatiewe Direkteur advertensiefirma – met Nui Sithikornkul) en drie kleinkinders (Ben, Thomas en Mulan); almal nog in Kaapstad, maar Kon – hulle op pad om te vestig in Thailand;

Belangstellings en aktiwiteite(behalwe professioneel): gesin, vriende, reis sedert 1970 (uitgebreid wêreldwyd, ook Antarktika, kamp, 4×4 in Afrika), wildparke besoek, surf, joga, swem, stap, lees, teater, fliek en welsynsprojekte.

PROFESSIONEEL

“Articles” by Jan S de Villiers; prokureur by Syfret, Godlonton & Low;

Prokureur, Aktebesorger, Notaris;

Senior Lektor UWK, Professor, Departementshoof en Dekaan;

LL D (UK), Drs Jur (Leiden);

Lid van verskeie professionele/semi-professionele komitees: oa SA Regskommissie, NICRO, Direkteur Kaapstad, Praktiese Regs-opleiding, Prokureursorde;

Outeur, mede-outeur, redakteur van 3 boeke (Kontraktereg) en menige artikels plaaslik en buitelands;

Gasdosent, navorsingsgenoot hier en in die buiteland ( bv Leiden, Leuven, Freiburg, Aix-en-Provence);

Tans: nuwe uitgawes van boeke en Mellon Senior Scholar (mentor vir LL D-studie (personeel)) by UWK, opinies, arbitrasies en dissiplinêre komitees.

FAMILIE-FOTO op Kersdag 2015 in ons woonstel.

EK HET TOT NOU ‘N GOEIE EN BEVOORREGTE LEWE GEHAD, MET ‘N LIEFLIKE (IN ALLE OPSIGTE) VROU EN ‘N WONDERLIKE GESINSLEWE. OOK VOEL EK DAT EK IN MY LOOPBAAN ‘N BYDRAE KON MAAK BY DIE UNIVERSITEITE WAAR EK BETROKKE WAS, EN OOK TOT DIE REGSWETENSKAP.

Maar, soos ‘n vriend gehoor het nadat hy ‘n aneurisme en hartaanval oorleef het, “Don’t be too happy, something will get you in the end.” So what, seg ek.

SAL HEERLIK WEES OM ALMAL WEER TE SIEN!!! En dankie aan die komitee.

Kersdag 2015

After graduating and toying with the idea of becoming a prosecutor in Rhodesia (there was lots of good and cheap big game hunting and fishing there) sanity prevailed and I joined Dyason Douglas Muller and Meyer (now Dyasons) in Pretoria to do my articles at the princely salary of R120 per month. I joined up with some contemporaries from Maties including Poen Hoffman, Ghoempie Albertyn and Mitt Bredell. We lived together in a house in Muckleneuck (rather a posh suburb) and euphemistically named the place “Maidens Hope.“ The house became known for its very good parties and the good looking guys living there!!,or so we thought.

After a fortunate run on the Stock Exchange whilst still a clerk I had enough money to travel overseas as soon as I had completed my articles. A friend of mine and I bought a camper van in London and off we went to explore. I had enough money not to have to work for a year and to have work interfere with my intensive studies of strip shows, belly dancing and beer festivals.

On my return I joined George Pretorius at Cliffe Dekker and Todd in Johannesburg. I had just got to like Johannesburg when I was offered a job by a firm in Durban. I was originally from KZN  and had some farming interests there so the offer was attractive.

Shortly after I arrived in Durban I married Anita Cronje, whom I had met on a blind date in Pretoria during my Maidens Hope days. We have lived in Durban since then and have been fortunate to have 2 girls and a boy. I am proud to say that all three of them are Graduates of Stellenbosch University. Only my eldest daughter followed in my footsteps and did law.

I was a partner in De Villiers and Strauss until Johan Strauss and I broke away in 1984  to start our own firm known as Strauss Daly. This firm has grown tremendously and now has offices throughout the country.

In 2001 I resigned as the chairman of Strauss Daly and the set up a legal call centre primarily to collect debt on behalf of the Big 4 Banks and the retailers. When I sold my interest 3 years ago and retired we were 2 Attorneys and nearly 500 call centre agents.

I have been very involved in game farming, hunting and fishing having hunted big game and fished in South Africa and in the neighbouring states as also in Britain and USA. I have also been the president of both the amateur and professional hunting bodies.

I currently live on a golf estate near Ballito. My time is spent on serving as a non-executive director of a listed Company and a Bank and travelling extensively in Africa and Europe and USA and spending some time at our beach cottage at St Francis Bay. My four granddaughters  also demand and get a lot of my attention.

It is hard to believe that we left University 50 years ago. I am so looking forward to seeing all my class mates again

Bill Daly

Bill & Anita