The Velddrif Pont 1899-1950

Velddrif is situated in the Sandveld 2km upstream from the Berg River mouth. The name Velddrif came into existence when a farmer, Theunis Smit took his stock through the 'drift in the veld' across the river mouth. Laaiplek (Originally known as Rooibaai) refers to the location where all the fish and farm produce were loaded.

The roots of this fishing community go far back in history when Portugese seafarers discovered and named St Helena Bay. In 1947 Vasco da Gama landed only 20km along the coast from Velddrif. Just south of the rivermouth "De Gouden Buys" was stranded with 200 men on board in 1693. One of the first Europeans at Laaiplek was the fish merchant Carl Stephan (his father was a Norwegian seafarer). He and his brothers founded a flourishing empire of shipping, fishing and farming enterprises. His old house forms part of the Laaiplek Hotel. Many descendants of his former employees are part of the fishing populace today, with names like Danish Nimb, and Italian Carosini, Fioravante, Dipaola, Novella, Colombo, Tallie and Viola. One of the Tallie ancestors built Stephan's fleet of boats. Salt, snoek and wheat were bartered in places like Mauritius for goods such as sugar.

Legend has it that the little sailing cutter 'Alabama' carried many cargoes up and down the Berg River. The Alabama would often come into Table Bay loaded with 'dekriet' (the thatching reed of the Sandveld) and 'matjiesgoed', for tying the bundles of reed. One type of river reed was used in the manufacture of the beds made especially for Cape Malay brides and wedding guests would feast on Malay cuisine, then view the 'Alabama bed' covered in white and silver spreads. A Malay choir would then sing a folksong in honour of the little cutter: "Daar kom die Alabama". (See Afrikaans section below)

In spite of the massive sand bar at the mouth of the Berg River, many types of ships entered the river, but in 1968 engineers blasted a channel linking the river with St Helena Bay and the fishing harbour of Laaiplek was completed. The old pont over the Berg River was built in 1899. When Carinus bridge was built in its place in 1959, supplies and produce could be transported to the interior Cape markets and the inhabitants of Velddrif and Laaiplek were brought into contact with the outside world.

One other interesting fact is that 100% of the able-bodied men of Velddrif served in the Second World War.

Die Velddrif Pont 1899-1950

Die Sandveldse dorpies Velddrif en Laaiplek is beide geleë op die walle van die Bergrivier - Laaiplek by die riviermonding en Velddrif twee kilometer stroomop. Velddrif het sy naam gekry van 'n boer, Theunis Smit, wat sy skape deur die 'drif in die veld' oor die Bergivier geneem het om te gaan wei in die 'baaivelde' (weivelde by Saldanha). Laaiplek, oorspronklik bekend as Rooibaai, het sy naam te danke daaraan dat al die vis en landbou produkte hier gelaai is.

In 1497 het Vasco da Gama in die baai aan wal gegaan. Net sowat 26km kuslangs van Velddrif af het 'De Goude Buys' in 1693 net suidwes van die riviermond gestrand met 200 bemanningslede aan boord.

Een van die eerste Europeërs aan die Weskus was die Noorweegse vishandelaar, Carl Stephan. Hy en sy broers het 'n florerende handelsvloot, asook 'n visbedryf en plase gehad. Sy huis is vandag deel van die Laaiplek Hotel. Vandag herinner vreemde vanne soos die Deense Nimb en Italiaanse Carosini, Fioravante, Dipaola, Novella, Colombo, Tallie, en Viola aan Carl Stephan en sy Europese werknemers. Een van die Tallie-stamvaders het Stephan se skepe gebou waarmee plaaslike handelsware so ver as Mauritius geruil is vir onder andere, suiker.

Volgens oorlewering het die klein kotter (seilbootjie) "Alabama" dikwels vragte op en af met die Bergrivier vervoer. Die Alabama het ook dikwels na Tafelbaai gevaar met dekriet en matjiesgoed vir die rietdakhuise. Die Kaapse Maleiers het ook van die riet gebruik om spesiale beddens vir die jong Maleierbruide te maak. Na die huweliksonthaal sou die gaste almal die spesiale bed, bedek met wit en silwer beddegoed, bewonder en die bekende volksliedjie sing ter ere van die Alabama:

"Daar kom die Alabama".