Early Years
Renier van Rooyen was born in 1931 in Kenhardt in the Northern Cape. His childhood was typical to those of most
Afrikaner children born in the platteland (country districts) in the
pre-Second World War era, and was characterized by a degree of economic
deprivation, but which in return, offered an abundance of character-forming
outdoor activities. Renier’s innovative nature enabled him to earn money from a variety of
part-time jobs, e.g. he received two shillings and sixpence per month (later
£3) for rolling the public tennis courts, he chopped wood for elderly people at
six pence a bundle, and worked as a cinema usher at the local (school) movie
house. He enjoyed sport such as rugby, tennis, boxing and wrestling and managed
to buy himself a used bicycle and a mouth organ from his hard-earned pocket
money. Renier went to school in Kenhardt at the age of six and proved to be an
above average scholar, finishing at the top or close to the top of his class
throughout his school career. He had the help of a very able school principal,
W.A. Burger, who offered extra classes and encouraged Renier to read widely.
His father became an alcoholic during the war years
and he died of a related illness in 1947. Without their principle breadwinner, the family went through difficult times, which were only alleviated when
Renier’s two brothers, Gert and Frans, and his sister, Baba, in succession left
school prematurely to find employment and helped to subsidize the family.
Their assistance also enabled Renier to complete his high school
education in 1948. After school Renier worked as clerk for the
Department of Justice in Kuruman for six months before he was transferred back
to Kenhardt to the Receiver of Revenue’s office. He then took up a job with the mining concern in Upington as recruiting officer,
secretary and buyer, and learned many facets of his future business firsthand,
such as the purchasing function and the value of price comparison.
About six months later, in
1952 at the age of 20, he opened his own accounting and agency services
business in a rented office in Upington. His business included helping
farmers with their tax returns and bookkeeping and he also supplied equipment
like windmills and wire. He was then asked by a previous boss, JJ Nel, to
become a part-time messenger of court in Upington with the unenviable task of
delivering court summonses and tallying the possessions of people in default.
His experiences in this regard gave Renier crucial insight into the problems
and dangers associated with buying and selling on credit. The lessons that Renier
learned during these years eventually formed a cornerstone of his business
philosophy: ‘It occurred to me that if I could sell essential goods for cash at
lower prices, I could make a profit while saving consumers unnecessary debt’.
Renier van Rooyen was born in 1931 in Kenhardt in the Northern Cape. His childhood was typical to those of most
Afrikaner children born in the platteland (country districts) in the
pre-Second World War era, and was characterized by a degree of economic
deprivation, but which in return, offered an abundance of character-forming
outdoor activities. Renier’s innovative nature enabled him to earn money from a variety of
part-time jobs, e.g. he received two shillings and sixpence per month (later
£3) for rolling the public tennis courts, he chopped wood for elderly people at
six pence a bundle, and worked as a cinema usher at the local (school) movie
house. He enjoyed sport such as rugby, tennis, boxing and wrestling and managed
to buy himself a used bicycle and a mouth organ from his hard-earned pocket
money. Renier went to school in Kenhardt at the age of six and proved to be an
above average scholar, finishing at the top or close to the top of his class
throughout his school career. He had the help of a very able school principal,
W.A. Burger, who offered extra classes and encouraged Renier to read widely. 
His father became an alcoholic during the war years
and he died of a related illness in 1947. Without their principle breadwinner, the family went through difficult times, which were only alleviated when
Renier’s two brothers, Gert and Frans, and his sister, Baba, in succession left
school prematurely to find employment and helped to subsidize the family.
Their assistance also enabled Renier to complete his high school
education in 1948. After school Renier worked as clerk for the
Department of Justice in Kuruman for six months before he was transferred back
to Kenhardt to the Receiver of Revenue’s office. He then took up a job with the mining concern in Upington as recruiting officer,
secretary and buyer, and learned many facets of his future business firsthand,
such as the purchasing function and the value of price comparison. 
About six months later, in
1952 at the age of 20, he opened his own accounting and agency services
business in a rented office in Upington. His business included helping
farmers with their tax returns and bookkeeping and he also supplied equipment
like windmills and wire. He was then asked by a previous boss, JJ Nel, to
become a part-time messenger of court in Upington with the unenviable task of
delivering court summonses and tallying the possessions of people in default.
His experiences in this regard gave Renier crucial insight into the problems
and dangers associated with buying and selling on credit. The lessons that Renier
learned during these years eventually formed a cornerstone of his business
philosophy: ‘It occurred to me that if I could sell essential goods for cash at
lower prices, I could make a profit while saving consumers unnecessary debt’.
Inspiring
ReplyDelete