Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a country bumpkin, an unsophisticated peasant.

1963		D. Wright Utter 16 Apr. (Pringle Coll. 462/47, N.E.L.M.) n.p.: Censorship as proposed will make idiots of their children, make real garvies of them, unable to hold enlightened conversation with anyone in the outside world [DSAE].
1964		J. Meintjes Manor House 119: They referred to the backvelders as duinemolle, japies, takhare, gawies and so on [DSAE].
1970		informant in DSAE (1996).
1991		informant in DSAE (1996).