Kassie Kasselman
Johannes Jurie (Kassie) Kasselman was born on 31 August 1943 and grew up in the Riversdale area among wildlife in the dune fields of the Southern Cape. Kassie’s interest in firearms started at a young age. During his childhood, he assisted with targets at commando shooting events. While he was a school cadet, he received provincial colours with the .22 rifle and earned national colours as a Bisley and bench-rest shootist. Kassie is a recreational hunter who enjoys hunting in the Bushveld, the Kalahari, and the Karoo.
His career in the military took him to Pretoria where he was a founding member of the reloading association. When the association merged with the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, Kassie became involved in the management of the association. He has been a member of SA Hunters since 1 September 1997 and served as deputy president and president from 2005 to 2006. Kassie has a passion for reloading and is known as a specialist in this field.
In 1968 Kassie acquired the original Queen Steel knife, which he still uses today. He provided and approved the design of the knife of his choice.
There are only a few knives left in the series of 25 numbered knives representing the preference of Kassie Kasselman. Members who order the knife can choose between a handle of camel thorn wood or ivory. Please place your order now to avoid disappointment.
To order, do an EFT of R2 500 in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa, account number 01443990077. Use your member number and Kassiemes as reference.
Prof. Gerhard Verdoorn
Gerhard Verdoorn was born in Brakpan in 1959. From an early age, he showed a keen interest in nature conservation. During his primary school years, he collected and cultivated succulents, and by high school, his interest in hunting had emerged. He bought his first rifle, a Brno 602 in .270 calibre, when he was 14 years old.
However, Gerhard’s passion for conservation always took priority. His lifelong career in the field began in 1985 with volunteer work on vultures, raptors, predators, and cranes, as well as anti-poisoning campaigns and research across several natural science disciplines. This coincided with his academic career at the Rand Afrikaans University, where he spent 10 years as a senior lecturer in organic chemistry, followed by two years in Israel, where his research focus shifted to chemistry related to birds of prey.
By the end of 1998, his interest in hunting had grown, and he acquired large-calibre rifles, including a .416 Rigby Ruger and a Winchester in .375 H&H Magnum. Gerhard remained a strong advocate for ethical hunting and focused on plains game for meat.
In 2004, he joined the then executive committee of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association as an advisor on conservation matters. Over the years, he held several portfolios, namely Vice President: Conservation (six years), Deputy President (four years), and President (four years).
Under Gerhard’s leadership, SA Hunters strengthened its commitment to conservation, not only to validate the reference to conservation in the Association’s name, but with the understanding that a hunting organisation cannot justify its existence in the current international context without clearly distinguishing itself as a conservation body.
During more than ten years of service to SA Hunters (first as advisor, then as Vice President: Conservation, and later as President), the Association became one of the leading non-governmental conservation organisations in South Africa.
His first glimpse of the ideal hunting knife was in standard 8, when the Bushmaster hunting knife of renowned knifemaker Piet Grey graced the cover of Man magazine. For many years, he never had he opportunity or money to commission such a knife. When the SAHGCA introduced the Past President commemorative knife series, he finally had the chance to acquire the knife he had dreamed of since childhood. The knife was a dream that took nearly a lifetime to realise. Gerhard is deeply grateful to the SAHGCA and Dawie Els, who is the knife maker, for this masterpiece.
To order, follow the same procedure as described above. Remember to use Gerhardmes and your member number as the reference when depositing R3 500 in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa.
Andre van Dyk
André van Dyk was born on 26 November 1951 and grew up in Krugersdorp. He joined the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association on 1 September 1986 and actively participated in the trophy competition. In 1984, he was appointed part-time liaison officer for the association. He also served as deputy president and was elected president from 1997 to 2000.
André is an enthusiastic hunter and particularly fond of the bushveld. He enjoys hunting in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, and Namibia and even hunted in Europe and Finland. He twice earned the title Grand Champion Hunter of SA Hunters and received the prestigious Musgrave Award in 1995. André also served as the editor of SA JAGTER/HUNTER for some time.
He provided and approved the design of the knife of his choice.
To order, follow the same procedure as described above. Remember to use Andremes and your member number as the reference when depositing R2 500 in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa.
Prof. Pieter Potgieter
Pieter JJS Potgieter was born on 1 December 1941 in the Gobabis district of Namibia. He spent his childhood in various places in Namibia where his father worked for the railways. In 1959, he graduated from Otjiwarongo High School and continued his studies at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, where he obtained his B.A., M.A., and D.Phil. degrees. He briefly worked at the former Department of Information but later returned to Potchefstroom University to pursue an academic career until his retirement.
Pottie was introduced to hunting as a child—initially to put food on the table—but his love for hunting grew and developed into a passion for the outdoors.
On 1 September 2001, Pottie joined SA Hunters as chairman of the shooting club in Potchefstroom, which later became the Hartbees Branch. He became involved in SA Hunters’ management and served as president from 2007 to 2010. During his term, significant changes occurred in the SAHGCA, as the growing membership required new structures and processes. Pottie played a significant role in developing a new constitution to expand participation and representation by members and branches. He also made a significant contribution in establishing a tradition in SA Hunters with the Congress opening ceremony, the singing of the Hunters’ Song, and the display of branch emblems.
Pottie’s preferred hunting destination remains the bushveld of Namibia, with the challenge still being a large blue eland bull.
Prof. Pottie provided and approved the design for this knife of his choice.
Only a few more knives available in this series. To order, follow the same procedure as described above. Remember to use Pietermes and your member number as the reference when depositing R2 500 in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa.
Dr. Peet van Zyl
Petrus Paulus van Zyl was born in Steynsrus in the Free State on 10 March 1943. He studied medicine at the University of Pretoria and later specialised in diagnostic radiology . Peet was a trophy hunter with an impressive trophy collection. From 197 6 to 1985, he hunted almost all game species that occurred in Southern Africa, among others, seven elephants, one white rhinoceros, –17 buffaloes, two lions and one leopard. He joined SAHGCA in 197 4 and became an active member. He also served on the management from 1981 to 1993.
Peet was elected president of the association in 1992 and served in this capacity until 1993. In 1982, he received the award for Big Champion Trophy Hunter, and the Pour le Merite in 1991. In 2002, SA Hunters made him an honorary member. He was also the recipient of the sought-after Musgrave trophy. Peet passed away on 9 September 2023, shortly after he had confirmed the design of this commemorative knife.
Only two more knives available in this series. To order, follow the same procedure as described above. Remember to use Peetmes and your member number as the reference when depositing R2 500 in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa.
Queries President Series Knifes
