Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a young black boy.

1946		African Wildlife 84: [...] to ensure that he hit some part of the animal, and hoped that it would bleed sufficiently to leave a spoor that could be followed by the native klonkie.
1947		A. Delius Young Traveller in S. Afr. 104: After tea most of the Klonkies and the Klimmeide went off to help their parents.
1953		A. Paton Too Late the Phalarope 25: My nephew went down to the location; and the klonkies there, the small black boys, [...] saluted him. [Ibid.] 58: The small klonkies from the black people’s location, who liked to hang around the store.
1974		F. Forsyth Dogs of War 158: [...] klonkie, the black playmate a white boy is allowed to play with until he grows too old and learns what skin color is all about.
1981		A. Dangor ‘Jobman’ Waiting for Leila (2001) 82: Toe nou klonkie, first get your breath back.
1989		J. Hobbs Thoughts in a Makeshift Mortuary 277: ‘And the klonkie up the ladder?’ He jerked his head at Jake.
1990		A. Dangor Z Town Trilogy 102: ‘Don’t worry klonkie, nothing’s going to happen. Ou Muriel’s mos dead,’ she said.
1996		Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg) 15 Mar. 🌐 The Kaapse klonkie with a brand new, rent-paying job.