What’s worse than a home without a mother …? Definitely “Sonop without a Nonnie”. As Sonop’s Nonnie it is not only my duty to keep every young man’s stomach full, but out of love I carry every Sonopper’s interests at heart. Nonnie is your mother away from home …
Sometimes I wish the walls at Sonop could talk and tell the stories of the past. Fortunately, the walls carry the tradition, culture and brotherhood of all the previous years and so it becomes part of every new Sonopper’s Sonop experience. What a great privilege it is to be able to live in a place like no other.
It’s about pride. It’s about history and tradition. It’s the Hope for the future. In all areas, from culture, academia and on the sports field. The ordinary guy suddenly turn into a hero. Sunday night echos the sound of a group of men through the streets of Pretoria. 105 years of tradition are always together in spirit. Because “Very few can be a Sonopper”.
Sunrise is your unfair advantage in life. This is something an ex-Sonopper told me has stuck with me to this day. Every day that passes one sees that Sonop is an investment in one’s life.
A Sonop resident is a normal person who works harder than other normal people and this is the core of Sonop’s success.
Hard work, perseverance and difficult times. Sonop teaches you how to function under difficult conditions – diamonds are only formed under high pressure. Christian values, character and perseverance – that’s our culture.
Sonop takes young boys and teaches them what it is to be men. Men who establish the Kingdom of God in our midst with truth and power. Men who will take on the roles of head and priest of their families with a God-fearing love. Men who walk in God’s light and keep on seeking a deeper relationship with God.
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth. This quote perfectly sums up a Sonopper. A Sonopper is not necessarily going to be the best on the field or the smartest in the class, but he NEVER gives up, and that’s what makes Sonop stand out above all the other residences, that’s what makes Sonop the best.
MASCOTS
1932 : Two Sonoppers and two Collegemen steal Oom Gert and after a few adventures he takes his home in Sonop.
1939 : Figure that served as an underpants ad is stolen and christened “Garribaldi”.
1942 : College and Voortrekker respectively try to steal Oom Gert but are unsuccessful.
1942 : Onderstepoort manages to kidnap Oom Gert and chains him by the hand. When Sonop stole him back they had to cut off his hand. Unfortunately, it was not until 1998 that Oom Gert regained full use of his hand.
1944 : College kidnapped Oom Gert and shortly after them, Vergeet-my-nie.
1950 : Vergeet-my-nie’s mascot, Elephant(who is currently Jasmine’s mascot), is looted.
1950 : Wits steals Oom Gert.
1956 : Sonop donates a giraffe to Asterhof as a mascot.
1963 : Brandwag on NKP’s mascot is stolen.
1972 : “Grasie” from Asterhof is stolen, used for photos and returned without the ladies being aware of anything.
1975 : College’s mascot, “Sarge Bourke” is stolen.
1976 : The Sonop Flag is officially taken into use.
1999 : Uncle Gert is stolen by Madelief but finds his new home very unpleasant and soon finds his way back to Sonop.