[2] He attended the Tot Nut van het Algemeen school for 1835 to 1838 and the South African College from 1839 to 1841, where he was taught by Dr Antoine Changuion and developed a great love for the Dutch language and culture.

As a young man he relocated to Burgersdorp as a legal agent and wool speculator.

[1] Hofmeyr returned to Cape Town in 1865 as a wealthy man and as he engaged in moneylending on a large scale.

He was particularly interested in municipal affairs and became a member of the city council and was Mayor of Cape Town between 1878 and 1879.

He made a provision in his will to the effect that, six months after his death, a Hofmeyr Charity Fund was to be established for the Groote Kerk.