OPPIERIF MANSKOSHUIS

 

Oppierif is a mining-themed Mens Residence at the University of Johannesburg (Auckland Park Campus), also well-known as the gentlemen residence, founded in 1974 to accommodate a surplus of students. Since then, a lot has happened and history has been made. Oppierif is no longer a rural miners' village but more of a thriving community of prosperity, power, culture and sophistication.We owe our name Oppierif to the late Dr. Jan Spies who told a well-known story: “Die stad met die Goudrif daaronder”. This lead to the creation of the mining culture Oppierif is known for until this day.

Oppierif was established in 1974 to accomodate a surplus of students at the Rand Afrikaanse Universiteit. Mr Boet Müller was appointed as the first House Father and a group of twenty senior students were chosen to form the core of the new residence. The first House Committe was led by Connie Kruger, Oppierif's first Hoof Direkteur.

Initially it was thought that Oppierif would consist of education students. With this in mind it was decided that the 20 seniors and 100 first year students would temporarily be housed in two ladies residences of the Goudstadse Onderwyskolledge, namely Horison and Panorama.
In 1975 the students explored their new homes at Horison and Panorama. To their dismay they discovered that the mining community would be restricted to the 1st three floors of each ladies residence. In addition, the lifts were off limits.

This did not last long, however, and in 1975 on the 6th of August Oppierif took their permanent place at RAU. This day will always be known as Delwersdag.
In January 1975 Oppierif was well established and production was set to soar. The promise of great riches lay in wait. These great riches were, however, short lived. The harsh economic conditions forced Oppierif to close D Shaft for mining activity. The Greek community of Benjimijn Ladies residence took ownership of D Shaft.

In mid-1990 a new reef was discovered that lead to the final surge in the economic fortunes of Oppierif. A second historical day in Oppierif’s history dawned on Tuesday 21 August 1990. In the early hours of the morning of 21 August, a mysterious wall appeared at the entrance of the living quarters of Benjemijn. This lead to a historic memorandum of understanding being signed between Mr. Francois van Heerden and Miss Kobie Winterbach. This memorandum paved the way for the re-opening of D shaft for mining operations.
Mijn Heil Zijn Oppierif

TITLES

House committee- Direkteur

Mentors- Voogde (Adeveserende)

5th year- Oubaas

4th year- Sir

3rd year- Oom

2nd year- Skoofbaas

1st year- Jare