Foremost amongst these was his rudimentary grasp of English, at a time when it was the main medium of instruction and crucial for any Afrikaner who wished to play a role in wider Cape society.
Vigtigst af disse var hans landlige forståelse af engelsk i en tid, da det var hovedmediet for instruktioner og vigtig for enhver afrikaner som ønskede at spille en rolle i det bredere Kapsamfund .