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Meet Louis of Suidpunt Horlosies in Bredasdorp.
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Louis Nigrini of Suidpunt Horlosies in Bredasdorp.
Louis is an unassuming, modest man. He spends his days tending to time and its many devices. His store, Suidpunt Horlosies, has been a fixture of Bredasdorp for 48 years. And he’s never been tempted by the bright lights of the major cities.

“I work here because of the culture. This is my home. I grew up 16kms down the road. This is the kind of place where people still own clocks. Treasured items to fix – not just to throw away.”

As a child, Louis discovered his love of time pieces through his father, a man who would pack away his pocket watches as soon as they stopped working. Louis carefully took them apart and began fixing each one as soon as the opportunity arose.  
 
Louis trained under the previous owner of his store – there’s no school for watchmakers in South Africa. He’s received orders from all over, because there’s only a handful of classically trained watchmakers operating in the country.
 
When asked what people should keep in mind about small businesses, Louis pointed out: “We’re the people who repair things. In cities they only buy and sell. No one’s willing to put in the work.”
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Contributors: Nomathemba Nkosi, Noluthando Pupuma, Vasanthie Naidoo, Faizel Emam, Thobekile Masuku, Michael Smith, Elizabeth Van Der Walt, Solomon Mananga, Willene De Villiers, Louis Petrus Nigrini, Wynand Burger, Gené Strauss, Rudolf du Preez, Ronel Germishuys, Carolyn Malan, Rudolph Dante, Pierre Versfeld, Chantal Bezuidenhuit, Marice Mercuur, Phillip Modiba, Paballo Motsifane, Ben Schempers, Jan Potgieter, Suné Van Jaarsveld, Karen Bezuidenhout, Hendrik Eksteen, Yanick Bathfield, Matthew Brownell, Gregor Rohrig, Robyn Viljoen, Gugulethu Hlekwayo, Lunika Phillip, Caitlyn Leigh and Elton Dick.