24 hour hotel name change

Posted on Sat February 8, 2025.

After an iconic visit by Bobby Kennedy to Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence in 1966 they started calling themselves 'Die Withuis'. The name has stuck. When Die Withuis alumni (76-80) visited us we followed suite with our own name change.

The 1966 SA  visit of US presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy to South Africa and the way it was ignored by the Nationalist government at the time almost reached a tipping point with the invitation of the house committee of Stellenbosch University's Simonsberg residence for him to address the res. Threatened with expulsion by the university authorities if 'anything went wrong' the res committee under the leadership of Willem van Drimmelin 

The story is well told via the link below. Well worth a view. 

Click here for the doccie on Bobby Kennedy's visit Simonsberg

For our part Barrydale's very own  Dominee Ollie is a product of Simonsberg residence and it's thanks to him that three years ago he organised the first Withuis  Barrydale reunion with the Karoo Art Hotel as party central. 

It's become a much looked forward event for the hotel and is a great example of one of favourite forms of booking - a hotel take over. 

Further Reading

Road tripping on Route 62
The winter promotion brings in the magic of the To Do List Wed June 17, 2026

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Winter time is AGA time Thu June 11, 2026

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Route 62 sports car road tripping Wed June 10, 2026

Photographer Ian Fairley captured the sheer joy of driving the passes and distant horizons of Route 62 in a car that you're passionate about while on the Giulia Jaunt. The hotel with it's ideal midway position between Cape Town and the Garden Route has become a favourite stop over for the sportscar crowd.

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