Vernon Koekemoer's mystique growing

The legendary status of the man known as Vernon Koekemoer has continued to grow, with the newly invented character attracting thousands of followers.

Images of Vern, a well-built man in rugby shorts, a checked blouse knotted at his navel and chunky rave boots sporting a mullet haircut, have been manipulated to show him waiting on the moon as Neil Armstrong arrived, embracing Kate Winslet in the famous Titanic scene, being acknowledged with a "V for Vernon" salute by George Bush and in countless other historic situations.

By Tuesday, more than 360 digital images and numerous Internet blogs, online discussions, two groups on social network site Facebook and even a cellphone ringtone had been dedicated to a man who has maintained a low profile since a photograph of him taken at the H2O rave in Boksburg on March 8 began circulating the globe.

Meanwhile, the real-life Vernon, who has not yet come forward to literally claim his fame, is contemplating several requests from the media for an interview and thinking over his options.

'I've seen him in quite a few raves. He usually wears just a T-shirt

Last week The Star attracted a great deal of feedback by publishing an appeal for information about Vernon Koekemoer.

Several muscle-bound readers called in to say they recognised him as a regular at the Benoni Virgin Active gym.

One e-mail claimed he was a security guard for a company and wished to keep a low profile, while another said he was a pit boss at the Emperors Palace casino.

"I've seen him at quite a few raves. He doesn't usually wear that strange waistcoat thing, just a T-shirt, which he then knots in the front, so he still looks the same," said one female caller.

A group on Facebook, called "Make Vernon Koekemoer Famous", had more than 3 200 members on Tuesday and was growing by the hour, according to creator Damian Armstrong.

The character Vernon Koekoemoer - as he was originally named - was created by Bryan Theunissen, who is in the advertising and marketing industry.

He received a photograph taken by "a friend of a friend" at the H2O party in Boksburg, named the man in the picture and circulated the original image as an experiment in so-called viral marketing.

The Star has discovered the true identity of Vernon Koekemoer, and has been in touch with his agent.

"The Koek has just come back from Richards Bay and is back at work today. I'm meeting with him on Saturday and then we'll let you know what he plans to do," he said.

This article was originally published on page 10 of The Star on March 26, 2008