Jacobus Arnoldus Graaff

Sir Jacobus Arnoldus Combrinck Graaff GBE KCMG (4 March 1863 – 5 April 1927), also known as 'Sir James', was a South African cabinet minister, Senator, businessman, and South African Party whip.

Following his father's death in 1875, he left Villiersdorp to work with his brother David at the Combrinck & Co. butchery in Cape Town.

[1]: 155 In 1907, Jacobus and his brother made a GB£100,000 donation (equivalent to £41,100,000[2] or R471,195,167 in 2010[3]) for the establishment of the De Villiers Graaff High School in Villiersdorp.

He lived in a large mansion, Bordeaux, on the beach front in Sea Point, Cape Town.

He insisted on being buried in a coffin with a glass lid and a working telephone in case he woke from the dead.

David Graaff and his brother Jacobus Graaff presenting a £100,000 donation to the De Villiers Graaff High School in 1907. David Graaff is making a speech, Jacobus Graaff is sitting to the right and Jan Smuts is seated in the extreme right.