This thesis is a report on a "rereading" (in the sense in which Roland Barthes uses the word) of the short texts of Boerneef (Izak Wilhelmus van der Merwe 1897-1967) published under the title Boplaas in 1938. Boerneef's prose is explored with specific reference to this one volume. The unity of the volume of texts is examined and textual indications of relations with other texts in the oeuvre are explored. In this way the thesis indicates how transtextuality determines meaning both in the individual texts as well as in the volume as a whole. The process of (re)reading in this thesis traces how, as a result of the exploration of the textual elements, a Boplaas code is generated. This Boplaas code signifies both the space and the ethos of Boplaas. Paternalism, feudalism and racism manifest themselves as important aspects of the ethos. The social disintegration which is endemic in this ethos is not caused, but merely accelerated by external impulses. The analysis indicates how, as a result of the specific organization of the narrative material, the text questions the feudal status quo. A process of demythologising of the vroegre boere-paradijs is therefore already present in the earliest Boerneef texts. However, the examination of Boerneef's prose also indicates that these texts go beyond the socio-politico-economic aspects by encoding the existential aspects of man's existence. / Hierdie proefskrif is die vers lag van 'n "rereading" (in die Barthesiaanse sin) van Boerneef (Izak Wi lhelmus van der Merwe 1897- 1967) se bundel Boplaas (1938). Die prosa van Boerneef word verken met spesifieke toespitsing op die een bundel . Die bundel-eenheid word ondersoek en tekstuele leidrade wat geledinge met ander tekste in die oeuvre aandui , word gevolg. Hierdeur word aangetoon hoe die betekenis en die be-tekenisprosesse van die tekste onderling, en die bundel as 'n geheel, op transtekstuele samehang berus. In hierdie leesproses word nagegaan hoe, deur middel van die ontginning van die tekstuele elemente, 'n Boplaas-kode in die narratiewe proses tot stand kom. Hierdie Boplaas-kode beteken 'n Boplaas-ruimte asook 'n Boplaas-etos. Paternalisme, feodalisme en rassisme word as belangrike aspekte van hierdie bestel geenkodeer en die tekste toon aan dat sosiale versplintering endemies aan die betrokke orde is en slegs deur impulse van buite verhaas word. In die bundel-analise word aangetoon hoe, as gevolg van die organisasie van die vertel stof, hierdie bundel bevraagtekenend ten opsigte van die feodale status quo staan. As gevolg hiervan is daar dus alreeds in die vroegste prosa van Boerneef 'n demitologisering van die "vroegre boere- paradijs" ingebed. Die ondersoek toon egter ook aan dat die Boplaas-tekste by die sosiopolitiko- ekonomiese dimensies verby óók die eksistensële aspekte van die mens se betstaan be-teken.