On my way to Machadodorp and with a meeting in Middelburg, I made an economical route change decision and exitted the N4 highway at Emalahleni (Witbank) thus avoiding the Forty Rand toll fee at the Middelburg toll gate. A warm feeling stirred in my Scottish bones as I contemplated the Forty Rand I was saving. Along the way a few inconspicuous signs indicated that the road to Middelburg was closed, but this being South Africa I paid no attention and continued. Others were doing the same so no point in believing road signs. At around 15km of the 30km journey, where the road crosses the river, I saw ahead of me some mayor road works. I had heard that one of our friends at Middelburg Tourism Office was unable to get to work because during December’s heavy rains the bridge between Witbank and Middelburg had been washed away, and here I was at that very washed away bridge!
No sweat! As ever, an enterprising local farmer had made a plan, and a detour across a big grassy field (I missed a turn and found myself in a homestead surrounded by chickens) took me to a queue waiting to cross the river on a makeshift bridge. A farm worker stood at the front of the queue with a dented old bucket, and was handing each driver a 500ml bottle of orange juice, dropping the payments into the bucket. “Twenty Rand for a bottle of juice” he said as I arrived at the front. “I’m going to Middelburg, and I don’t need juice,” I said, a little indignant. “That’s Twenty Rand... ” he said, “...and you get a free orange juice.” I paid, got my free juice and laughed the rest of the way to my meeting. This is a must for foreign visitors and family outings! A real life “Boer maak ‘n plan” experience. And he’s half the price of the Middelburg tollgate!
Silvia & I had the juice with our Wacky Wednesday lunch!
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