Article by Jasper Cloete

Since it opened its doors for business as a family owned Guesthouse and Conference Centre in 1997, Eagle’s Nest helped launched many businesses, churches and became an active part in the lives of many individuals with interesting stories.

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One such individual is Andre van Zijl.

Andre finished school in 1965, started his working career in the Permanent Force from 1966 to 1971, joined the SAA in 1971 to 1979 and took his final job as a high school teacher of Afrikaans and History from 1978 to 1984.

Then his life collapsed! As a result of poor lifestyle choices earlier in his career, he was diagnosed with HIV in 1984! He lost his job as a teacher and for the next 4 years became a recluse working through his emotions and options. During this period of utter despair, he had a dramatic spiritual encounter which led him to become a committed confessing Christian with a purpose to make the rest of his life count by making a positive impact in the lives of as many people possible.

Being an energetic sportsman all his life, he used the method of attempting unusual World Records as his platform to do motivational talks as an HIV activist and to raise funds for various charities.

Since 1988 to 2017 he successfully attempted and set 54 such records which ranged from:

• Roller skated from Cape Town to Johannesburg in 19 days
• Sang for 28.5 hours
• Climbed Table Mountain on roller skates in 41 min 27 sec
• Roller skated from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland in 7 days
• Danced for 345 hours nonstop
• Drank 20 litres of milkshake in 4 hours
• Played chess for 150 hours
• Roller bladed 85m down the Old Parktonian Hotel (secured with ropes) in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, in 1 min 47 sec.
• Pumped petrol for 1,000 hours

To

• Sitting in a jacuzzi for 10 days

During the period 1988 to 2017 he collected an estimated R86m for various charities, amongst other:

• Abraham Kriel Children’s Home
• Cotlands
• Various SPCA’s
• Epilepsy SA and the
• School for Blind and Deaf

In 2010 he exchanged his roller blades for a bicycle and started to crisscross South Africa and the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique to do his talks and raining funds. These travels were made possible with the sponsorship of various companies eg. Spur, Protea Hotels and various restaurants and guest houses.

This is how he met Helen Cloete, owner of Eagle’s Nest in 2014. He frequented Eagle’s Nest more and more and soon developed a strong friendship with the owners. In 2017 he was exposed to the Generational Inheritance Group (GIG) message, founded by Jasper Cloete. After having gone through the training on how to develop a generational legacy, he realised the time had come to re-invent himself as a businessman.

With the support of Jasper and Helen, he explored various opportunities until he settled on his NeoLife business (distribution of health and cleaning products) and his Water Filtration business (operating as HydroBev Fourways). His Mineral Pot is fast becoming a best seller to households and offices because of the fact that the filtration unit does not require electricity to work and filters 12 litres per cycle.

Today, Andre has developed 4 income streams and is a staunch believer in the GIG movement. To talk to Andre on either GIG, NeoLife or Water Filtration units, he can be contacted at 072 206 6355 or email at ahvzijl@gmail.com

Eagle’s Nest Lodge and Conference Centre is proud to be part of the story of Andre.