Don Pinnock Lays Bare the Life Belinda Kruiper Led in the Kalahari With Vetkat Kruiper

In a post for Mahala, Don Pinnock has written a moving short biography of Belinda Kruiper, who was married to #Khomani leader Dawid “Vetkat” Kruiper. In the piece he writes of a woman whose life began very differently to what it eventually ended up being – the life of an activist, who still works for San rights.

Belinda Kruiper’s story is also told in a book she co-wrote with Elana Bregin, called Kalahari Rainsong. A new edition of this book was released last year.

The pretty, honey-skinned girl from Calvinia tried to fit in. Coming from a family of teachers and preachers, she attempted to do what was expected – began studying social work, joined the United Building Society and became a hostess on a Translux bus.

There was, however, a strange restlessness in Belinda Kruiper’s blood, a searching for something she couldn’t name. She married a Mauritian, incurring family disapproval, and travelled up through Africa to Europe with him. But she found he was no less violent than her preacher father and the relationship fell apart. Conventional society just wasn’t working for her: she needed to get away.

• Complete article: Mahala

Book details

• Kalahari Rainsong by Elana Bregin, Belinda Kruiper
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  EAN: 9781869140526
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