Our Story

Nerina’s name comes from the indigenous South African flower, Nerine Filifolia. This delicate, yet enduring flower brings colour to the open grasslands and humid locations in the Eastern Cape, Transkei, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Free State. It takes three years for this bulbous to bloom for the first time during autumn – and likewise most Nerinas are rooted here in our precious home in Stellenbosch for about three years before they need to exit into the world and start to bloom in their respective careers.

Nerina hosted our first residents in 1968. The residence was only completed in 1972 and for the first four years the residents had to use the back entrance next to the bicycle stands, as the front door was not yet complete. Mrs Rabie was Nerina’s first residence head. Her dog, Brutus, was a beloved resident of the house and unfortunately passed a tragic death. He is laid to rest in Nerina’s soil where he still finds peace in the purple shade of our beautiful Jacaranda.

Mrs. Kritzinger joined Nerina as residential head in 1995 and had to bid us farewell in 1999. Tannie Annette du Plessis has been deeply planted in our hearts as residential head and house mother since July 1999.

Although greeting Aunty A after twenty years was a heartfelt and difficult goodbye, we are overjoyed to have Joy Petersen as our current resident head. Her name is true to her joyful spirit and with her honest and practical servant leadership she captured our hearts. Oh, the stories our walls could tell... Stories filled with love, tears, joy and growth. Since 1968 Nerina has been home to many. With every new face that she greets, her face changes as well. While striving to grow and adapt as time goes by, we also know that our firm foundation was laid long before our time and will stand long after we leave. We often say, “Nerina is such a big part of our lives” but in fact, for a little while, we have the privilege of being part of hers.

Today Nerina’s heart blooms with pride for our residence – a progressive and innovative home-away-from-home in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch. We stand for respect, integrity, Ubuntu and potential development. In this house, true to the roots of our name, Nerinas prosper and flourish.

Nerina Residence