Lynnpark Butchery, Pretoria

Over the last forty years Pretoria Mutton Supply (Pty) (Ltd) has grown to become one of the largest independent meat trading companies in Pretoria. Today this vast company incorporates Lynnpark Butchery, Pretoria Cold Storage, Pretoria Meat Market and Therons Cold Meat Products.

The company was started in 1952 by Mr. David C. Theron, later affectionately known as "Oom Dawie." The young Dawie Theron arrived in Pretoria from Boshoff in the Free State in 1942 with his wife, two sons and only 24 pounds in his pocket. He moved his family into a house in Vos Street, Sunnyside, and began work as a butcher at Farmers Meat Bazaar – today the site of the State Theatre.

The young man left for work by bicycle at 3 am to cut meat for home deliveries. Long hours, hard work and diligent saving allowed the young man to open his first butchery in Carel Trichardt Street, Mountain View, in 1947. He bought live sheep from farmers in the Karoo and Free State, and had the sheep brought to the Pretoria Abattoir by rail.

He was the first butcher in Pretoria to offer orders for half-sheep to his clients.
An innovative business man, he traveled extensively in the Belfast district to increase his income by speculating with livestock, and on many trips his young son David accompanied him.

During 1957 he took ownership of Cape Mutton Supply, a small butchery in Schoeman Street, Pretoria. By that time he was the owner of seven butcheries in the capital. It is interesting to note that Mr. Theron was the first butcher to advertise at drive-in cinemas. The year was 1960.