Aubrey Kruger

Aubrey Kruger
Born(1935-07-21)21 July 1935
Died19 July 2016(2016-07-19) (aged 80)
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
CitizenshipSouth African
OccupationDraughtsman
Known forInventing the Dolos
SpouseDaphne Margaret Bright

Aubrey Kruger (21 July 1935 – 19 July 2016) was a South African draughtsman and inventor.[1]

Working life

He worked as a draughtsman for the South African Railways and Harbours Administration in East London, Eastern Cape, until 1966. He was then transferred to Durban. In 1973 he moved to East London, Eastern Cape and started a tyre retreading company. In his later years he worked as a draughtsman for an architectural company. After that he became a truss designer for a timber company.[2][3]

Invention

Eric Mowbray Merrifield is credited for the invention of the "Dolos",[4] a concrete block used to stop coastal erosion. However, Kruger countered that claim by claiming that he was the inventor of the "Dolos" and that he had done so in 1963 after being instructed by the South African Railways and Harbours Administration to find a solution for the sea eroding the harbour. The block is reinforced in a complex shape weighing between 80 and 88 tonnes.[5] It is used all over the world in harbours [6][7]

Personal life

He married Daphne Margaret Bright (b. 6 May 1937) on 1 February 1958 and they had four children. He died after a stroke in his house in East London, Eastern Cape.[8]

References

  1. ^ "The full story behind the dolos and its SA creator". Independent Online (South Africa).
  2. ^ The Mercury (10 August 2016). "The full story behind the dolos and its SA creator". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Great South African Inventions". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. ^ Conrad Glass. "Rockhopper Copper". Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ^ "The Dolos". Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  6. ^ "South African Mint's new collectable coin showcases South African harbour innovation". Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Two Dogs". Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  8. ^ Barbara Hollands (27 July 2016). "SA inventor of dolos sea buffer system dies aged 82". Retrieved 9 April 2018.