As per Witpoortjie Neighbourhood Watch tradition of the past several years, Father Christmas roamed the streets on Saturday 7 December.
Working his way up from the lower parts of Quellerie Street and Witpoortjie, through Lindhaven and Grobler Park and upwards towards Princess, Father Christmas rode a truck with many voluntary helpers and a fleet of cars and motorcycles following him. The ride started at 8am in Quellerie Street and Father Christmas called it a day at 2pm.
“We’ve been doing this for many years, and the children’s faces are worth the effort every single time,” says chairman Mathys van Rensburg.
Father Christmas, this year played by Frik van Zyl, handed out free candy in lucky packets that the Neighbourhood Watch members had spent time making up. Pair that with loud and lively Christmas songs booming from the truck’s sound system and it became a merry time for all. Two of his biggest stops were at Pick n Pay in Witpoortjie and the Witpoortjie Spar, where parents brought their children to meet Father Christmas. Some took photos with him.
“We’ll keep doing it for as long as we can – it brings as much joy to us as it does to the streets and children of Roodepoort.”
View a gallery of the event here.
