From Maryse Pate from her recollection of conversations with Oupa Frans:
He grew up on a farm in NW Transvaal.
West of Rustenberg.
They travelled by ox-wagon, two days to Rustenberg, 1 week to Pretoria where they would lager in Church Square for the weekend, trade and go to church.
His parents died when he was relatively young.
He had a cousin who hobbled on stumpy legs. It doesn't sound like it was from an accident, so possibly polio.