The passing of a craftsman and the end of an era

After battling emphysema for some time, and in failing health, our beloved “Dedda” and Oupa, Burt van Dyk, was admitted to the ICU at the Krugersdorp Netcare Hospital in August, where he remained, bed-ridden but fighting all the way, until he died of total organ failure in October.

Our Mom was also in hospital this year, having sustained an injury to her hip and being in ill health. Even Boetie, their African Grey parrot, suffered from the loss, pulling out his feathers, because Dedda’s singing and whistling had fallen silent.

Burt was born during the Great Depression, in Vryheid, to his Dad, an Old Apostolic Church Pastor, and his Mom, Alletta Theron. He was the fifth of seven children, and the apple of his Mom’s eye.

Survivors of the Great War and the Eighth Army Corps, his father, a carpenter, and Burt’s oldest brother, an electrician, were both emotionally scarred. Nevertheless they were tough, hard-working men who cared for their families, as many others did after the Great Strike of 1921.

Even though Burt’s other older brother, the South African Middleweight Champion, Joe “Iron Man” Munro, who was trained by the Toweel Boxing Empire, bullied him mercilessly, Burt survived both that and the battling Primrose gangs, as well as the ducktails, and married Hannetjie Kritzinger in 1956.

Working on the Railways, as did many others who lived on the Witwatersrand, Burt learned the trades of plumbing and sheet-metal working. He used his artistic skills and perfectionist eye for detail to forge, from lead, steel, copper, brass and stainless steel, many everyday items that would protect his precious precision instruments, and over the years these items graced his home. Now, they are prized by his four children, their life partners and four grand-children.

During the boom years, when South Africa transitioned from Union to Republic, the young family moved to Bloemfontein, where the new apprentice, far away from home and family, honed his skills in the great heat of Sishen and Hotazel, installing and maintaining the huge water towers that supplied the steam engines with precious water. These great water towers can still be seen, from Braamfontein Station to as far afield as Usakos in Namibia.

Until 1969, Bert was in the employ of the South African Railways, where he worked as a plumber. He designed, created and installed cooling and ventilation systems, and eventually trained many apprentices. After 1969, Burt became the Senior Building Inspector at the Roodepoort Municipality, where he remained until his retirement. His expertise and skills were in high demand, and earned him extra income doing freelance work at many homes and major businesses in Roodepoort.

Being more than a perfectionist, and a stickler for the rules, his sense of duty and no-nonsense attitude gained him the fear and respect of many. His family learned to be extremely independent, and like our Dedda, we asked no-one for anything. If you needed a trunk, a dustbin or a bucket, he would make one. He crafted gates, pergolas, brass bells, copper planters and buckets, and metal containers for pencils and paintbrushes – he even replaced leather school suitcase handles with proudly crafted steel handles. We learnt to be self-sufficient, strong, independent and responsible, trusting few and suffering no fools.

His vegetable garden, which was fenced with his signature steel and wire mesh, created with his hand-built welding machine, and his hand-crafted cement tiles and capstones are testament to his skills. The dovecote filled with doves reflects his keen skills and artistic eye, and even boasts a hand-forged copper fountain. His love of languages, and fine tenor voice entertained us with memories of Vera Lynne and Perry Como.

We pay respect to the dedicated, patient and caring staff of the Krugersdorp Netcare Hospital and are especially grateful for the kindness of Dr Brandt, Dedda’s only confidant and great comfort in his difficult time of need. Even though Dedda has left unfulfilled dreams and incomplete projects, his broken home and family is healing. We have peace in our hearts, having had our opportunity to reconcile.

And for now Boetie, the African Grey, has been given a new lease on life, as with a voice recording and some whistling, he has started dancing again. No matter what, Dedda will be in our hearts forever – his paintings and artwork a constant reminder to us of this perfectionist craftsman.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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