Decades of community service — and love

The couple, who has served the Benoni Town Council for more than 20 years, celebrated their wedding anniversary on January 13.

Despite Christina being born in the Free State and André in the Eastern Cape, they found their way to one another in Vereeniging, where they lived in their teens.

André was a meter reader at the time and visited Christina’s home to service their household meter.

“My mom invited him to meet me, because he was interested in the neighbour’s daughters and did not know of me,” said Christina.

They fell in love with one another due to their shared interests and were married in Vereeniging, in 1951.

Before moving to Benoni, where they have lived since 1988, they lived in Kinross and Boksburg.

André started his career with the Vereeniging Municipality in 1948, and retired at the Benoni Municipalityl in 1988, 40 years later.

He held various positions in different towns, including that of a police reservist, scholar patrol officer, safety control officer and town clerk, among others, and retired as an administration control officer.

He served as chairman of the South African Association of Municipal Employees (Saame) while in Benoni, and as chairman of the Institute of Administration and Commerce South Africa.

Christina was a secretary for the Saame and well known to the municipal employees of Benoni.

Her duties included arranging money loans, annual events and commemorating those who had retired from council service.

André said his wife has always been the secret, quiet inspiration who assisted him in all his business activities.

The couple said they form a good team to this day.

They have three children, Gerhardi and Hannah-mari, who live in America, and Albertus, who lives in New Zealand. as well as four grandchildren.

They have travelled abroad extensively and periodically focus on America, in particular, conducting business deals, as André has qualified as an appraiser, auctioneer, broker, second-hand salesman and real estate agent.

As a result of coming from the countryside, André has also had an interest in livestock and owned small farms on North Rand and Ridge roads, in Boksburg, which he eventually had to dispose of to focus on his council commitments.

Nowadays he has a passion for his ancestry and occupies himself with doing research on the topic.

So far he has traced his ancestors back all the way to 1645.

Other current hobbies include reading up on law and various cases, whereas Christina describes herself as a ”home bird”, who particularly enjoys experimenting with food.

She is also a keen linguist and obtained the highest marks in English and Afrikaans in the then Union of South Africa, when she was in standard seven, in 1947.

Keeping up-to-date with the latest technology, she makes regular use of an Ipad, to stay in touch with her children.

According to André, he loves everything about his wife.

“Everything she does pleases me,” he said.

The couple’s advice for leading a contented life included honouring your Creator, respecting others, appreciating each other’s differences and being thankful for what you have.

They spent their anniversary day together, quietly at home.