The English translation of one of Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr’s frequently quoted epigrams read as follows:  “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”

Our esteemed colleagues Marius de Jager, Sarel van den Berg and Uys van der Hoven reached their official retirement age and resigned as directors.

However, it would have left a significant void losing their intellectual capital in one fell swoop.  We are proud and grateful to announce that Marius, Sarel and Uys have agreed to remain an integral part of the Van der Spuy and Partners’ team in their capacity as full-time consultants.

Karr’s epigram coined in his monthly journal, Les Guêpes, in January 1849 in France still today rings true in Paarl.


Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
French critic, journalist and novelist
24 November 1808 – 29 September 1890