On Friday 30 March I visited AngloPlats near Rustenburg for consulting work. I had a chance to visit the Old Mill - Der Alte Muhlstein restaurant where I had lunch. The old mills was built by a German in 1870s. The Kroondal mill was the only one in the district that offered sifted meal. A school was established for the community in 1892; two of its best known scholars were Louis Botha, South Africa's first Prime Minister and the Afrikaans poet Totius, J.D. du Toit. The Lutheran Church, with its distinctive architecture, was built in 1896.

The mill was burnt down during the Anglo Boer War in 1900. It was rebuilt in 1916 and was used as a mill till 1995 and owned by the two sons of the old German. The initials of their first names became the name of the mill - HB Millers. The town retains a strong German character with many of the descendants of the original Lutheran missionaries still resinent.

The old mill has grind to a halt. The original milling equipment is still retained. Walking on the old creaking floors in the dimmed light of the mill is strnage experience and recalls memories from a time long gone.