Cluver Markotter proudly claims its origin from the merging of two firms, Paul &
AH Cluver and Markotter Basson & Marais.
The Cluver-part of the firm dates back to October 1891, when Paul August Carl Dietrich
Cluver was admitted as attorney and started to practice at 6 Bird Street, Stellenbosch,
under the name of PD Cluver.
Paul Cluver was a prominent public figure and played a meaningful role in the Stellenbosch
community. He served as Mayor of Stellenbosch from 1914 to 1921; and from 1927 to
1930 he served as member on the Provincial Board. The fact that he was held in high
esteem on local management level was evident when he became the first person to
be nominated as honorary lifelong member of the Municipal Association of the Cape.
In July 1916 his brothers, FA Cluver and AH Cluver, joined him as proffessional
assistants. In 1932 he changed the name of the firm to Paul & AH Cluver, with
PD and AH Cluver being appointed as associates. In October 1965 AH Cluver, after
62 years as a practising attorney, was granted Honorary Membership by the Law Society
of the Cape of Good Hope.
In 1950 Ralph Paul Cluver, son of AH Cluver, joined his father's practise and remained
as a partner, until his retirement in 1980.
The Markotter-part of the firm dates back to 1906, when August Friedrich Markotter,
the legendary "Oubaas Mark" of rugby fame, moved to Stellenbosch and joined the
firm Krige & Markotter as a partner.
The name of the firm was later changed to AF Markotter & Son. Well-known partners
of this firm were CF Markotter, brother of AF Markotter; CLH Markotter, son of AF;
Abraham Barend de Villiers who joined the firm in 1945 but, after a few years, accepted
an academic position at the Faculty of Law at the University of Stellenbosch (US)
where he served as professor and dean of the faculty; and JHA Vosloo of Robertson,
who joined the firm in December 1953 but then left to join Paul & AH Cluver
in May 1967.
The next development in the Markotter-part of the firm was the 1970-merger of AF
Markotter & Son with Hofmeyr & Basson, to bring about the establishment
of Markotter, Basson & Marais. CLH Markotter retired, with JAA Basson and PG
Marais remaining as partners.
On 1 May 1973, Paul & AH Cluver and Markotter Basson & Marais merged to
form Cluver Markotter. The partners were RP Cluver, JHA Vosloo, JAL de Waal and
JAA Basson. Upon the retirement of RP Cluver in 1980 POS Meaker joined the firm
as partner.
Two further mergers followed. In September 1982 Cluver Markotter merged with Smith
& Zetler, bringing a new partner GJ Erasmus to the firm. The partners were JHA
Vosloo, JAL de Waal, JAA Basson, P0S Meaker and GJ Erasmus.
Dr MM Loubser was admitted as partner at Cluver Markotter during 1983 whilst retaining
a chair as professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Stellenbosch (US).
During 1987 JHA Vosloo retired and in 1988 JW Basson was admitted as partner. In
1997 JW Basson left the legal profession to devote his energies to the production
of wine on his wine estate in the Stellenbosch district.
During May 1995 Cluver Markotter merged with Meintjes and Champion and PL Hill joined
the newly merged firm as partner.
For a short period from September 1997 Cluver Markotter Inc. practised in amalgamation
with Hofmeyr Inc. of Johannesburg but dissolved this amalgamation during September
1999 and continued to practice under its old name and style at its current address.
During 2000 JAA Basson reached retirement age and resigned as director to serve
the Western Province Rugby Football Union as president and AL de Waal (2000), RB
Africa, CW Prins, DL Cronje, D Swart (2001) and AMJ Melck (2003) joined to form
the current board of directors of Cluver Markotter Inc together with JAL de Waal
(chairman), P0S Meaker, MM Loubser and PL Hill.
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