Eersterust man preserves SA heritage through miniature models

An Eersterust man is turning his long-term dream into reality piece by piece, as he works to make history and heritage more accessible.

Casper “Bicks” Jeftha (77) had the idea in 1996 to make South Africa’s heritage more accessible to people. He set out to bring the country’s rich history to those unable to experience it firsthand.

As he thought about how to achieve this, Bicks realized he could create miniature models to showcase historical sites.

“You can’t protect what you don’t know and don’t understand,” he told Rekord.

This motto is now inscribed on a plaque at his facility.

He shared that he once visited the Big Hole in Kimberley, and upon his return, he understood the privilege of seeing iconic landmarks.

“So I made four or five models, and I won an award for it.”

In 2016, his work earned him a Golden Shield award for his models of various heritage sites across the country.

The recognition opened doors, allowing Bicks to visit more heritage sites, bringing their stories back to his hometown.

“I am so lucky. Since then, I’ve also created models for others, including the Cradle of Humankind,” he said.
“I was honored.”

He applied for funding and sought private-sector support to make his work available to the community.

In 2020, he finally secured some funding.

Initially, he applied to use the Old Eersterust Hall on St Joseph Street, but the plan fell through.

“I was fortunate that the city council recognized my potential and the donations of building materials, and we were granted the old bowling grounds,” he explained.

Construction began just before the Covid-19 pandemic, and two years later, the project is nearing completion.

Now, Bicks is preparing to open the Tshwane Mini Heritage Model Exhibition at the Bennie Fisher Hall, located where the bowling and tennis grounds in Eersterust once stood.

The exhibition will showcase models of landmarks such as Mapungubwe, the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Robben Island, the Gautrain, the Cradle of Humankind, the Voortrekker Monument, as well as displays featuring national flowers, animals, trees, South African brands, and more.

It will also include scenes from the Kruger Park and a model of the Marikana massacre to remind visitors that such tragedies should never happen again.

“Nothing is new – everything is re-used, with some paint, glue and nails,” Bicks said.

Passionate about preserving history, Bicks has also collected newspaper clippings documenting some of South Africa’s most significant moments, including when Eersterust made the news.

He jokes that the project has become like a second wife, proving to be expensive and time-consuming.

Bicks himself is a wealth of information and is always ready to share the story behind each model.

The hall also features old photographs of Eersterust community leaders and a display commemorating the Sundowns tragedy of 1967, when 10 fans, including some from Eersterust, died in a road accident on their way to a soccer game in Krugersdorp.

Bicks is grateful for all the sponsors who have supported his work, from a small grant from the Lotto in 2020 to the Tshwane metro, which backed his application for exhibition space.

The large hall, set to open later this year, will include a stage, coffee bar, seating booths, a playground with a mini-golf course, and hopefully one day, additional features such as a petting zoo.

He hopes the venue will be used by local schools and the community for events, kiddies’ carnivals, and social gatherings.

“Proudly born in Eersterust and proud to bring all this to our community,” he said.

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