Eloff was a pianist and cellist and often practiced with his violinist friend Dr Willem Johannes Leyds (1859 - 1940). They met while both living in Johannesburg studying geology at the South African School of Mines. Leyds became the State Attorney of the ZAR in 1884 and later in 1889 the State Secretary. Leyds’ bronze bust is in the University of Pretoria Art Collection. It was donated by the artist in 1937 during the opening of the Merensky Library at the University of Pretoria.