Dunk a rusk ... it’s Evita Beskuit Day!

South Africa's national treasure, Evita Bezuidenhout turns 85

Tannie Evita dunks a Swartland Kitchen rusk to celebrate her 85th birthday

One of South Africa's most iconic figures, Evita Bezuidenhout, turns 85 on Monday (September 28), and to celebrate this impressive milestone, Evita se Perron, the Darling-based entertainment hub has declared it National Swartland Kitchen Beskuit Day.

Five months of lockdown has led to a multitude of changes at Evita se Perron. The energetic team of Frits van Ryneveld and Hentie van der Merwe, who launched their enormously popular Darling Sweet toffees six years ago, has taken over ownership of the legendary international destination from Tannie Evita.

Says Van Ryneveld: “We are delighted to say that we have expanded our business. In addition to our toffees, toffee spreads, honey and salt that we produce, we now also make – under the Swartland Kitchen banner – delicious rusks and granola using stoneground wheat flour, sourced from local farmers growing crops in an environmentally conscious way.

“It is the Swartland Kitchen that is now the baking heart of the Evita se Perron, with the delicious smell of fresh tarts, pies, cakes and rusks taking over from the scent of Mrs Bezuidenhout's Jeau'Mour perfume,” he quips.

Van der Merwe says they are particularly proud of their Swartland Kitchen rusks which are baked in small batches in their kitchen and which have become a firm favourite of Tannie Evita who loves nothing better than to dunk them into her mug of moer koffie in the morning.

“This is why we are declaring her birthday National Swartland Kitchen Beskuit Day and celebrating the occasion on social media with the hashtags #TannieseGunsteling and #TanniesChoice,” says Van der Merwe.

New look Tannie Evita

To mark her 85th year, Tannie Evita, the beloved 'Gogo of the Nation', is also revealing her new look. Having been shielded in the relative safety of her home since March, a weekly visit to her hairdresser was out of the question. With a new hairstyle thanks to a special shampoo donated by Clicks, Mrs Bezuidenhout now joins the ranks of mature international beauties like Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Julie Andrews!

“With my new hairdo and a box or two of Swartland rusks – which I have declared the 'Official Rusk of the Republic of Bapetikosweti' – I couldn't ask for a better birthday,” says the doyenne of Darling and beyond.

About Swartland Kitchen
Swartland Kitchen is the newest iteration of Darling Sweet which was launched in 2014 by Frits van Ryneveld and Hentie van der Merwe. Darling Sweet, one of South Africa's premier toffee manufacturers, produces a range of handcrafted toffees that have become popular at home and abroad. Darling Sweet has also provided job creation and career development opportunities for the community and also manufactures toffee spreads, as well as locally sourced raw veld flower honey and hand harvested salt. Their latest range of products - under the Swartland Kitchen banner - include breakfast rusks, seed & rye rusks, buttermilk rusks, sugar free breakfast rusks, almond & orange rusks and granola. For more information visit https://swartlanddeli.co.za/

About Evita se Perron
Now in its 25th year, Evita se Perron has established itself as one of the most unique venues in South Africa. Pieter-Dirk Uys and his cluster of satirical characters have entertained thousands of visitors through the years, with Evita Bezuidenhout still presenting her tongue-in-cheek take on our history with Tannie Evita Praat Kaktus, her unique entertainment reflecting the politics of the day. In addition to various innovations, the new Perron management has enlarged and developed the Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout Museum, while Book League has moved its bookshop into The A-en-C (Arts and Crafts). The brand-new coffee shop in the existing theatre offers refreshments available with a tasting menu of the Swartland Kitchen produce and is open from 09:30 to 16:00 daily. Visitors can also take a walk through the beautiful gardens of Boerassic Park. For more info, visit www.evitaseperron.com and www.evita.co.za)