Happy Tuesday Melville! 🏠

Ready for a story that'll make you fall in love with our neighbourhood all over again? This week, we're opening the doors to one of Melville's most intriguing hidden gems - Agterplaas Guesthouse.

Fair warning: We've got quite the tale to tell, so grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable! We've broken it into bite-sized sections for those of you short on time.

(And if you see "[Message clipped]", just click "View entire message" to catch the full story - trust us, you won't want to miss this one!)

In today’s Melville Untold,

• The Story of Agterplaas 🏡  

• Comedy At Karaoke Kong 😂

• First MRA Meeting Of The Year 📆

Let’s go. 

— Aubrey Moloto, 

The Digest

The Story of Agterplaas 🏡

A home away from home. We hear that a lot, but we've finally found the place that truly embodies the saying. Another cliché, right? Wrong! Agterplaas is the warmest and most welcoming space I have ever entered. It's that gorgeous, old-timey guest house shrouded in mystery you drive by every day but never go in. We're here to inform you that it's safe to do so. Honestly, I've been walking past it since my teens, wondering… Wat gaan aan hier so? Dintsang? Can people just waltz in? Well, thank you, Cat Dold, for requesting this story because waltz in we did, and what a vibe we danced into!

First Impressions of Agterplaas 

It was an intimate but packed house concert. Founder Jannie du Toit and Thean Kotze were performing some Afrikaans classics to a crowd so engaged you would have thought Jannie was a hypnotist. And EVERYONE seemed to know each other. We followed it up with a Friday morning breakfast a few days later to test/taste the merchandise. This answers two frequently asked questions: Can anyone just go to the guest house and eat at their restaurant? Yes. Do they host open events? Yes again.

Breakfast is open to the public, while lunch and dinner can be booked and prepared upon request. They host music concerts and small private events like a recent 60th birthday, a year-end function, and an art class event. They are growing this service further by partnering with someone who'll be hosting a flower-making course in February. They want to do more of these things now. Okay, okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Let's rewind a bit. (Cue vinyl record backspin)

The Origin Story: Backyard 

Let's take it back to 1994 when through-and-through Melvillian Jannie du Toit purchased a vintage Victorian-style house that we know today as Agterplaas Guesthouse. The guy just wanted a cool-looking house in his favourite suburb where he could play some good tunes and host a couple of mates. Having studied law at the then Rand Afrikaans University in the 70s, he moved to Pretoria to complete his articles and then returned to his beloved Melville, LLB in hand, to pursue a music career! Music allowed him the privilege of travelling a lot. He slept in many guesthouses and bed and breakfasts locally and abroad. As much as Jannie loved being an artist, he knew that money in music was fickle and that he needed a master plan to keep his income steady.

So, on April Fool's Day in 1999, he opened a guesthouse in his backyard, henceforth "Agterplaas." The name was given by Melville legend Lochner de Kock, dubbed the Mayor of Melville in the 90s and a well-known actor, singer, and cook. They'd have coffee and a local favourite Uitsmijter meal at The Mixer (an iconic Melville establishment) every morning until it sadly closed down in the early 2000s. Jannie wasted no time in hiring the Uitsmijter chef herself, Ms Badia Isaacs (another local legend), who crafted the original taste of Agterplaas and brought the popular Dutch dish along with her.

Agterplaas Becomes A Popular Melville Guesthouse

Jannie took specific steps to enhance the old-world charm that Agterplaas is known for:

• Preserved the original architectural features.

• Was grateful for the original pressed ceilings already present in the house and made sure to maintain them.

• Brought back an old stove removed from the kitchen, further enhancing the vintage feel. The "green jewel" was identical to the one in Madiba's childhood home, endearing it to him even more.

• Loved the authentic Oregon Pine flooring in the dining room and preserved it.

• Incorporated antique furniture into the rooms.

• Worked extremely hard to acquire the bullnose Victorian-style roof from a local school, which now sits at the entrance.

Jannie finished his masterpiece by adding the bus stop on the side of the road at Agterplaas. The stop was made for an elder gentleman who went for his daily walks around the neighbourhood and rested at Agterplaas every day for over 20 years. 

After getting the look right, Jannie worked on perfecting the feel. He focused on creating a homely and welcoming atmosphere. Guests on Trip Advisor rave that the guesthouse is a warm and friendly place with incredible energy. The staff are known for being warm, caring, and helpful. Many guests felt that they were honestly interested in their well-being. To achieve this feeling, Jannie had a personal connection and interaction with his guests. He made a point of connecting with them to create a personalised experience where they felt at home.

He emphasised community and tradition, integrating elements of Melville's history and culture into Agterplaas by creating a map called "Melville at the turn of the century" with a local artist. The map highlights local businesses in the year 2000.

Strong relationships and a robust network helped make the guesthouse a welcoming space for all. One of Jannie's best friends, Peter Harris, also started a guesthouse around the same time, catalysing the bond Agterplaas enjoys with surrounding guesthouses to this day.   

The new owners, Annemie and Elroy, emphasise collaboration with local guesthouses, not competition. They share customers and ensure overspill is booked into other Melville guesthouses, keeping visitors in the area. Annemie and Elroy keep the bond strong by experiencing local offerings themselves to provide more Melville experiences to their mostly international guests.  

Melville being an art-centric suburb, and Jannie a musician himself, the arts have influenced the atmosphere at Agterplaas as well. Jannie used to host music evenings in the early part of the guesthouse's history. Annemie and Elroy brought this tradition back by occasionally hosting intimate house concerts and are looking to add more events.  

With all these fundamentals in place, Agterplaas grew a brilliant reputation throughout the 2000s as one of South Africa's top guesthouses, with a 5-star rating on most online booking platforms and thousands of raving reviews as proof. Jannie eventually hired Santie Wolvaardt to help manage the guesthouse while his music career blossomed.

Challenges And The COVID Scare 

Agterplaas enjoyed a terrific existence early on. They saw their first signs of trouble in 2008 when the global financial crisis hit. Jannie saw the economic downturn directly impact the business's bottom line. "This made things very tough." Agterplaas scraped through the crisis and started prospering again into the twenty-teens until trouble reared its nasty face again; COVID hit.

Just like many other businesses, Agterplaas was not immune to COVID-19's negative effects. Jannie admits the situation got so bad he began to believe that this was the end for them. "There was no way that I as an individual would have been able to survive it. It was impossible. Totally impossible."  

Jannie is a believer in Christ and has been a member of the NG Kerk - Kruisgemeente Church for most of his time in Melville.

He credits the survival of Agterplaas to divine intervention, saying that "the Lord provided what was needed." Jannie believes that God sent money to him using one of his international guests as a vessel. 

The close relationships he had built with his guests over the years fostered so much goodwill that one ended up directly saving Agterplaas. An American guest managed to get donations sent to Agterplaas regularly throughout the pandemic. Jannie is still bewildered but extremely thankful to this day.

Enter Elroy and Annemie 

Okay, I know what you're thinking: "How could you just slip Elroy and Annemie in there without a dramatic grand entrance?" My bad…here it goes!

As the guesthouse approached its quarter-century, Jannie felt that the time had come to fully focus on his music. He hosted a 25th-anniversary celebration where he mentioned that he was looking for someone to either purchase the guesthouse or partner with him.

Annemie was part of the opening team of Montecasino and later General Manager of Carnival City. Elroy was a serial businessman in his own right. Some weeks before the anniversary, Annemie decided it was time for a major career shift. She left her position as Carnival City's General Manager and started considering new ventures, possibly even opening a restaurant with her partner Elroy.

They were invited to the anniversary celebration by Annemie's sister, who also happened to be Jannie's wife. They heard Jannie's announcement, looked at each other knowingly, and the wheels started turning. A few days later, the two couples met for dinner, where Elroy and Annemie expressed their interest in purchasing the guesthouse. Jannie, aware of their business nous, gave it no second thought! With a quick transition, by May 1, exactly one month after hearing the news, Annemie and Elroy had taken over. Jannie and his wife stayed on the property, but fresh blood was in the pilot seat now.

Annemie And Elroy's Reign 

Elroy and Annemie are business people through and through. Needless to say, they run a tight ship. They took over operations seamlessly with their family, ensuring Jannie's amazing work continued with the look, feel, and service while finding ways to improve even more.

They love the old-world and vintage South African feel, appreciating its clear distinction from other hotels and guesthouses. Annemie and Elroy also kept the authentic South African food with the legendary flagship meal - Uitsmijter. Being some of the warmest and friendliest people we have ever met, they easily raise that homely, welcoming feel.

You can find them constantly monitoring the vibe and operations, making sure things go exactly the way they need to. They wear multiple hats all day. At times, one is taking orders while looking after customers in the restaurant while the other does handy work in the rooms and monitors their online presence, personally responding to EVERY SINGLE Trip Advisor comment. It makes you genuinely feel that Jannie could not have chosen better successors.

With Jannie's energy and presence still around, long-time customers feel at home and welcome. We asked award-winning South African author, Vincent Pienaar, one of said longtime customers why he always goes back there and he said, “The food has always been very nice, like proper home cooking but it’s about the people I meet there, and it’s about who the place belongs to” There were over 55 guests on the Friday we went for breakfast. And again, they all knew each other.

The Agterplaas Experience 

For our breakfast last week, we found the street lined with parked cars for miles, all parked on one side of the road. This rule was enforced to allow Melville residents to pass through the narrow road easily. We walked into a bustling, lively atmosphere. Regular breakfast customers and sleep-in guests (one iconic international jazz musician) were all in the dining room-style restaurant. Freshly baked bread was laid out in the middle with some self-service cold meats to add to your meal.

I was warmly received by Elroy, who sat me at a large table with a friend group that had been coming to meet for breakfast there for more than a decade. They were all happy to see each other. Coffee and conversation were flowing freely. I was welcomed and introduced to everyone.  

Annemie was personally looking after the tables, taking orders, clearing plates, and pouring coffees. She poured me a delicious cup of filter coffee. When it was time to order, I asked her for the recommended dish. Without a beat, she recommended a huge, tightly stuffed omelette with a choice of ham or bacon as the main meat. Annemie sliced me some warm, fresh bread as well.

The food was amazing. The 2-egg omelette came piping hot, filled with bacon, mushroom, and tomato, held together by a generous serving of melted cheddar cheese. The fresh bread with a swath of butter came together with the omelette and coffee like an orchestra on my taste buds. Each ingredient played its part perfectly. The chatter and hearty laughs drowned out as I got lost in my plate.

I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. It reminded me a lot of Cuppa Café, no pretentious gourmet promise, only home-cooked wholesomeness. Breakfast seems to be the highlight here. They serve full English, vegetarian, and offer continental options too. Breakfast is served in the large dining room with the Oregon Pine flooring and pressed steel ceilings. 

For sleep-in guests, the Agterplaas experience is described online as having incredible energy. It's located on one of Melville's quietest streets and overlooks Melville Koppies East. This provides a sense of tranquillity that makes visitors forget they are in a busy city. It's a short walk to the lively strip where guests can enjoy a variety of boutiques, bookshops, coffee bars, and nightclubs.

All rooms have en-suite bathrooms. They are individually decorated and furnished with either king-size or twin beds, with some rooms also having sofa beds for an extra person. Standard room amenities include air conditioning, fans, heaters, flat-screen TVs, bar fridges, free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea facilities, and a safe for extra valuable items you want to be kept secure. Some rooms have patios, and all are spacious and clean.

Agterplaas promotes local experiences and helps guests explore the Melville area. The owners offer personalised recommendations for local restaurants and other venues. They have built relationships with local tour guides and connect them with guests interested in exploring the broader area, like Soweto and other adventure tours.

Additional facilities include:

• Secure parking at no extra cost

• Laundry services

• Limited informal conference facilities

• Airport shuttle services are available upon request

• A shared communal kitchen is available for guests to use

• A garden and patios where guests can relax

The communal kitchen particularly fosters social interaction. Elroy and Annemie say that on occasion, they open it up for guests to give each other a taste of their home experience. This adds a fun, interactive, educational, and multicultural experience that guests appreciate.

Plans For The Future 

At the moment, Annemie and Elroy are experimenting with hosting small events like house concerts. They want to host arts and crafts classes and are open to hosting private functions like birthday parties and university events and collaborating with businesses that offer small workshops.

Having an internationally heavy customer base, they aim to grow their local footprint because of the guesthouse's historical significance in the neighbourhood. They want to maintain the sense of community that is a hallmark of Melville and Agterplaas.

They have started exploring more social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. After the Chris Brown concert, young people filled their space, which made them realise the importance of having a diverse range of guests. They believe these platforms will help them reach these other demographics better.

Ultimately, Elroy and Annemie's vision for Agterplaas is to build on its reputation as a warm and welcoming "home away from home" while actively growing its brand, offering new experiences to guests, and collaborating with the local community. The focus is on both honouring the existing traditions of Agterplaas and adding new dimensions that cater to both local and international guests.

I Love Melville

We couldn't close off without asking what they love about Melville and their most memorable moments here. For Annemie, her most memorable moment was the day they decided to buy Agterplaas, April 1, 2024. For Elroy, it was when a group of people randomly came to the guesthouse in the festive season and played Christmas songs, and when a man wandered around the neighbourhood in a Santa outfit playing the sax.

They both love the strong sense of community that contrasts with where they lived before coming here. They highlight that everyone in the neighbourhood is very friendly and community-oriented. This fosters a feeling of togetherness and collaboration to improve the area. They also love the relaxed and multicultural atmosphere of Melville. They view Melville as a place with a special energy, making it a good representation of Johannesburg's diverse culture.

If you enjoyed today’s in-depth read about the story of Agterplaas, consider buying us a coffee.

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

We have the usual weekly things to do this week. The stand-up comedy events at Karaoke Kong is our pick of the week! Here’s what’s happening in Mellies this month-end week.

Melville Weather For The Week 🔥 

If it’s not raining for days on end, its hot as hell! What temperamental weather we’ve been having in Jozi. Thank goodness for the occasional light breeze. 🌬️

Tuesday

29° 🌡️ 15°  | ☀️ |  🌧️ 0% | E 9 km/h 💨

Wednesday 

30° 🌡️ 16°  | ☀️ |  🌧️ 1% | NW 7 km/h 💨

Thursday  

32° 🌡️ 18° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 40% | WSW 13 km/h 💨

Friday 

33° 🌡️ 18° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 3% | SW 9 km/h 💨

Saturday 

30° 🌡️ 16° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 56% | NW 7 km/h 💨

Sunday

30° 🌡️ 16° |  🌤️ |  🌧️ 55% | NNW 9 km/h 💨

Monday 

27° 🌡️ 15° | 🌩️ |  🌧️ 72% | W 11 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events Lowdown 🎸

Live Jazz at Chiesa, Smoking Kills’ emo night, Frigays at Coca - lots of fun to be had. Things are picking up! Here are the music events in our hood this week.

Tuesdays | 7 pm - 10 pm | Xai Xai Lounge | Eric Miyeni & Richard Jones playing live music | Free entry

Tuesdays | 7 pm - 10 pm | Coca Lounge | Artist open showcase/performance | Free entry

Wednesdays | SIX Cocktails Bar | Live Jazz Sessions - Marcus Wyatt, Keenan Ahrends, Siphiwe Shiburi | 8 pm til late | Free entrance 

Thursdays | 7 pm - 10 pm | Coca Lounge | Open Mic - Plug in, play, sing and rap | Free entry

31/01 Friday | 7.30 pm - 9 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Phelelani Mthembu & the Fellowship presents The New Era: Daluxolo Mqwathi, Siphiwe Shiburi | Tickets R160

31/01 Friday | 4 pm| Smoking Kills Bar | Emo Nite - DJ’s | Bar tab for the best dressed emo

01/02 Saturday | 4 pm | Smoking Kills Bar | Raving In Johannesburg - Dom Nice, DJ V🇲🇿🇸🇪, Beeziflybynyt, Lenaya🇿🇦🇩🇪 | R80 entry

01/02 Saturday | 6.30 pm - 11 pm | Chiesa di PAZZO LUPi | Legacy Jazz Ensemble | Tickets R180

31/01 Friday | Coca Lounge | Frigays At Coca Lounge | Free entry

01/02 Sunday | 4 pm | Jo’anna Meltbar | Sola Vida Drum & Bass | 1/2 price cocktails | Free entry all day

Sundays | 8 pm - 10 pm | Coca Lounge | Vynil Sundaze | Every Sunday

If this comprehensive weather and gig guide helped you, consider buying us a coffee.

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our instagram page @snapson7th

Melville Koppies Check-in ⛰️

This week at Melville Koppies Central 🌿

What an epic Sunday we had! The 8km trail brought out quite a crowd despite the scorching heat. Our guides Jenny and Allison shared fascinating insights about indigenous plants, wild fruits, and the trail's rich history. While some folks (wisely!) took the shorter route at the halfway point due to the heat, we powered through the full 8km - and wow, was it worth it!

This Week's Activities:

• Free roaming

• Bird-watching

• Photography

• Meditation sessions

Gates open 8:30 AM - close 11:30 AM

Pricing:

• Adults: R100

• Under 18s: R50

• Under 5’s: Free

Want a private tour? Reach out to Wendy at 079 532 0083 to arrange your own guided experience.

Pro tip: Bring lots of water and sunscreen - that African sun means business!

Want to support the preservation of this urban oasis? Scan below to see how you can help keep the Koppies thriving for future generations.

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

CREASS Pushes On With The Backlog

On the civil side, CREASS has been hard at work clearing up the backlog of work and addressing issues on our roads and sidewalks.

The backlog is higher than what MSI and the MRA can afford to pay for, so they might need our help. Keep an eye on the Melville Council Issues group, as Danny will be reaching out for assistance in getting a few more days of work done in our area before the month ends.

This way, we can start February having caught up.

Markets Watch 🎪

Melville Market

We popped into both Markets briefly this past week, and they both seemed to be gaining steam slowly. The Melville Market is now fully back and in full swing.

Some familiar stalls from last year have returned, while a few were missing, but some new ones popped up as well. We checked in with Savva from De La Crème, who had a huge table of delicious-looking baked treats.

The market will be open again this week, so come on down to the Kruis church!

Melville Artisanal Market

The Melville Artisanal Market is the perfect traditional farmers market to replace your Spar grocery needs. Here's a list of some of the offerings:

• A stall selling mostly organic veggies with some of fruit

• Free-range eggs, rotis, and soon-to-be-added kimchi

• Andrew with his honey

• Kathy's free-range chickens and home-cooked frozen meals

• Tamsin's wide variety of cheeses

• Baked goods from Baker Brothers

• Estelle's dips, patés, prepacked salads, and healthy homemade rusks

• Jojo bakes' biscuits, shortbreads, and upcoming brownies and other baked goods

• Sadhia's spices, masalas, and Himalayan salts

Pop into this week's Market for an unconventional grocery shopping experience!

Extra Sprinkles  ✨

MRA Kicks Off 2025 with First Community Meeting 📆

Mark your calendars, Melville! The Melville Residents Association (MRA) is hosting its first meeting of the year on Monday, February 3rd at 6pm. The gathering will take place at 34 4th Avenue.

What's on the agenda? Expect updates from various MRA portfolios, including key projects, the physical environment, security, and land use. They'll also discuss progress on initiatives from last year and share opportunities for residents to get involved.

This meeting isn't just for committee members – it's a chance for all residents to stay informed, share their input, and make their voices heard. Whether you're a Melville veteran or a newcomer, the MRA wants to see you there!

For more details, reach out to [email protected]. Let's start 2025 as a united Melville community.

Hope to see you all there! 💪

Thank you! 🙏

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Reply to this email to find out about our rates.

Your support is appreciated, Melville. Forward this email to a friend who cares about your community.

'Til next Tuesday,

Stay curious, stay connected, and let's keep uncovering the untold stories that make Melville magical! ✨

Adiós! 👋