Umqombothi and mampoer
Randfontein Police Station were chosen as the number one potjiekos cooks in the Krugersdorp Cluster.
Zulu beads, two-toned shirts, Volksmoeder outfits, animal skins, loin cloths and blankets were just a few of the vast array of traditional wear at the Krugersdorp Cluster Heritage Day celebration.
Just a day before Heritage Day the Cluster gathered at the Tarlton Police Station to celebrate one another’s cultures and of course, no Heritage Day or rather, Braai Day can be complete without a braai or a potjie.
Every Police Station falling under the Cluster were split up and each of them had a stall. These stalls had to display one South African culture. The Randfontein Police Station displayed the Zulu culture. The Randfontein officers were so involved in the proceedings that they performed a traditional Zulu dance in animal skins and in hand they had shields and spears.
At the Randfontein stall everything Zulu could be seen. Policemen sat together and had a traditional Zulu beer called Umqombothi. The drink is traditionally drunk out of a clay pot. The Herald was invited to taste this drink and we can confirm that it is one sour drink.
Randfontein Police spokesperson, Captain Appel Ernst was also accepted into the culture and was dubbed Appel ‘Nomvula Ndlovu’ Ernst.
Tarlton Police decided to go a bit more Khaki and represented the Afrikaans Culture. Their stand was a Khaki tent with posters of seemingly unknown Afrikaans colloquialisms. The stall offered Melktert and the age old Afrikaans drink – Mampoer that tested the taste buds of even the bravest policemen and women in the Cluster.
The Tarlton Police officers were dressed in two-toned shirts, Vellies, and Volksmoeder dresses.
On the entertainment side, Pieter Engelbrecht owner of the Legend, was the DJ for the event and with him he brought Lance James the Big Daddy of country. Sandy Lee, another country singer also performed at the event and naturally officers from different stations performed traditional African dances and songs.
While all the singers and dancers were performing and officers were comparing outfits, the potjies were on the go. The cooks carefully adjusted heat, stirred and added seasoning to their pots. The potjies were tended to like a mother would tend to her newborn baby.
It wasn’t long before the judges went from potjie to potjie to select a winner. Being experienced in the restaurant business and specialising in Boerekos, Pieter from the Legend was one of the judges.
Results (best table representation):
• Randfontein Police Station in first place
• Tarlton Police Station in second place
• Hekpoort Police Station in third place
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