I have found some interesting Rondalia literature recently, and will add it to this thread as soon as I have scanned it. In the meanwhile, some snippets from the WWW:
FIRST AUTOMOBILE CLUBS
The first established motoring organisation was the Automobile Club of SA, formed in Cape Town in 1901 just before the end of the Anglo-Boer War. This body began to lobby for improved roads and amenities for cars but the effect was a mere ripple in the pond because the number of car owners was growing slowly
The groundswell was such that a federation was formed in 1923
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Other bodies began to spring up around the country: the Transvaal Automobile Club in 1903, the Natal Automobile Club in 1906, Pietermaritzburg in 1907, the East London and Border in 1908 and the Queenstown Automobile Club in 1916. In 1911, the original Cape Town-based Automobile Club of SA received a royal charter and became known as the Royal Automobile Club of South Africa.
The groundswell was such that a Federation of Automobile Clubs was formed in 1923 (the same year local motor manufacturing commenced) to co-ordinate and act in the interests of motorists.
The disadvantages of having many diverse bodies attempting to deal with councils, municipalities and government were recognised so in 1928 the Queenstown AC was granted permission by the AA of Great Britain to use its car badge and name as a Federated AA, shuttling in the idea of a nationwide AA
By 1930 it was reconstituted into the Automobile Association of SA
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In January 1930 the federation of clubs was reconstituted as the Automobile Association of SA. The final improvement in the AA’s effectiveness came with the adoption of centralised control in 1934. In 1966, the Royal Automobile Club of South Africa was taken over by the AA and in the 1980's it absorbed its rival motoring organisation, Rondalia.
It was established mostly as an Afrikaner initiative to get a foothold in the touring industry. It must be remembered that Afrikaner sentiment was high at that point in history and wanted to establish its own identity also in this stronghold of motoring. As said above it offered various benefits to its members such as roadside assistance, travel advice and holiday accommodation.
My father belong to Rondalia Touring Club during the late 60's early 70's. He used to make bookings, ect and I think he qualified for some assistance (like AA) as well. I know they had an office in Worcester and Goudini Spa was called Rondalia Spa at some stage as well.
Furthermore you could choose from the various Rondalia resorts in the country.There were quite a couple like Hibberdene, Goudini, loskop, Thipise, Swadini etc etc.
I also was a member in the seventies. They had a mechanical inspection service similar to the AA but their insurance was worthless, also being the reason why I left them.
