Finding treasure in the trash

A place where you can view a piece of apartheid history.

- Shaun Holland

When we were invited to a scrapyard in Pretoria, we had no idea we would get to see a piece of South African apartheid history.

You have probably heard the saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. This perfectly summarises Bernie's Joint, a unique venue, pub and workshop in Koedoespoort, Pretoria.

It forms part of a scrapyard business owned by Christo Viljoen, who has a passion for turning scrap into gold.

The charming venue is tastefully decorated with old road signs, number plates and all sorts of automotive memorabilia.

There is a distinctive American theme as you approach the venue with US flags along the fence and a Pennsylvania cab on display in front of the property.

Being in the scrap business gave Viljoen access to all sorts of junk that people sell - from cars, trucks and buses to aeroplane engines.

This venue was built with car and motorcycle lovers in mind.

There are a host of classic American vehicles on display, including a Chevrolet pickup that was destined to become scrap metal. But Viljoen and his mechanic Andre Wolmarans gave it a new lease of life by restoring it.

This is the case with many of the vehicles that are in the yard. The two men take scrap and look for ways to turn it into treasure.