RESIDENTS of Franschhoek were shocked when they awoke on Valentine’s Day, only to find that the name of their beloved town had been changed.
The distinctive white Franschhoek rock wording above the mountain pass had overnight been transformed into Fransie Q.
Irate residents, especially those from a local old age home, had the telephone lines of the Stellenbosch Municipality abuzz with calls of complaint.
But it was not a decision of the government to change the name of the town to that of some political activist, but a local farmer’s proof of love for his Valentine.
The starry-eyed Pieter Pepler spent the whole night before Valentine’s Day covering the rocks with black plastic to transform the word Franschhoek to that of his beloved, Fransie Quass.
Pieter and Fransie’s romance started on Valentine’s Day 2006.
This year, Pepler decided that it was time to asked her for her hand in marriage, also on Valentine’s Day.
“I didn't realise how big the letters were until I reached the site.
“It took almost 120 black plastic bags and most of the night to transform the name.”
Not only was the scrambling of the Franschhoek name part of his romantic plan, but he had also arranged for a friend to take him and Fransie on a helicopter flip around the site, during which he would pop the question.
This however did not materialise due to the bad weather that set in.
However, Fransie (a specilialised baker) did not even notice his hard work on Thursday morning.
“I was too busy preparing wedding cakes for Saturday to notice anything.
“At 11:00 Pieter phoned me and said that something had happened on the Franschhoek pass and I should take a look.
“It was only then that I noticed the wording. I couldn't believe it.”
That evening they set out to Camps Bay, and it was here, in a cosy candlelit atmosphere with glasses charged with champagne, that the big question was popped.
And needless to say, Fransie could not resist her beau after his efforts of the evening before.
Pieter and Fransie now plan to continue with their Valentine’s Day romance, and they will be tying the knot on Valentine’s Day next year.
After recovering from his daring transformation, Pieter had to once again ascend the slopes of the mountain during the weekend to re-establish the Franschhoek name to its former glory.
This left the residents of the town heaving a sigh of relief.
