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TRIBUTE To a Leader
Riviernuus
MADIBA R T Mr Nelson Mandela has inspired many artists from around the world. Even two of our local talents from Stellenbosch rendered this extraordinary human being.
Freedom Smile
TATA Forever Pencil Sketch done by Gerald Maketees, from Kylemore, after the passing of our legend.
Sport honours the great man
Acrylic on Perspex done by Lucienne Myburgh, from Pniel, in 2008. The painting is currently at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg.
Reverend Leon Klate next to Pniël’s Ubuntu Monument, paying tribute to the late Nelson Mandela.
“Sport has the power to change the world. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.” - Nelson Mandela As a token of appreciation for what the late former president Mr Nelson Mandela has done to unite South Africans through sport, Pniël Villagers Rugby Club arranged a memorial service for this great statesman.
The proceedings started with a wreath laying ceremony at the Ubuntu Monument on the Werf. Rev Leon Klate from the Pniël Congregational Church said that the rock for this particular monument was obtained from the Van Riebeeck quarry on Robben Island, the same quarry where Madiba worked. “The monument was unveiled by the Gandhi of
Africa at the time, Mr Kenneth Kaunda. This is therefore more than just a rock from Robben Island,” the reverend said.
HENRY WILLIAMS (Former Protea Cricket Player)
IVAN JACOBS (Former Springbok Rugby Player)
COLIN MYBURGH (Chairman: Coronation Cricket Club)
CHRISTO JEFTHAS (South African Masters Athletics Champion)
STEPHEN MYBURGH (Former Boland Rugby Player | Villagers Committee Member)
ABRAHAM LAKAY (Chairman: Kylemore Rugby Club)
“Mandela handed over our team shirts for the Commonwealth Games in 1998. That year we beat the Aussies and Madiba’s magic worked. Today our kids have all the opportunities and we must make use of it.”
“Through Mandela’s life we can learn a lot. Like unity. We have to bring unity to our valley. That’s what he has taught us.”
“One could see God through Madiba’s actions. The biggest lesson he taught us is to forgive.”
“Although there are still some issues in our national teams, we can learn how Madiba lived. None of us can achieve success alone. We need each other.”
“Where would we have ended if it wasn’t for Nelson Mandela? He meant a lot to our rugby club and sport everywhere. Pniël could compete against top teams and produce three Springboks in Ivor Myburgh (sr), Trevor Adams and Andrea Mentoor. Strive for his legacy and ask how we can make a change together.”
“Mandela was a freedom fighter and a peacemaker. Kylemore produced Springbok Ivan Jacobs and his son also became a junior Springbok. We must build on his legacy. He was the icon and true leader. Long live the spirit of Nelson Mandela.”
At the formal service in the church, some of the Dwars River Valley’s sports heroes paid tribute to Mr Mandela and how his actions indirectly influenced their careers.
Teacher inspires students with his “Jailed for singing Nkosi” Story Riviernuus came across the following story about Jerome Langenhoven, a Stellenbosch native and former teacher at Lückhoff High. Story courtesy of Maidenhead Advertiser, England. The death of Nelson Mandela has inspired a maths teacher unjustly imprisoned at the same time and place as the leader to share his experience with hundreds of pupils. Students across all year-groups at Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead, England, have
been transfixed by Jerome Langenhoven's assemblies this week, who was detained as a young teacher for singing the national anthem. This is the first time the South African father-of-two has discussed his past with pupils at the school in Furze Platt Road and he says he is 'humbled, privilege and honoured' to do so in the week of Mandela's passing. In 1989 Jerome, who is now 49, was imprisoned along with two teachers from the school where he worked in Stellenbosch, South Africa, for singing Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika, meaning God Bless Africa in assembly.
At that time of the Apartheid the anthem was thought to support the freedom movement. Jerome and his colleagues were considered a threat to national security and, without a court hearing, sent to Victor Verster prison where they remained for 20 days, at the same time Mandela was serving the latter part of his sentence. Jerome, who lives in High Wycombe with his wife Josephine and two children, never met the man inside but said the experience has had a profound effect on him. "In a way it makes me proud that it happened," said Jerome, a devout Christian who found courage by looking at the insignificance of 20 days captivity compared to Mandela's 27 years.
"It made me more determined to fight for equality."
He said: "Mandela is unrivalled by anyone in this world."
Following his release Jerome, who was never given a criminal record, joined The Defiance Campaign, a movement where black men and women risked their lives to oppose segregation laws.
Jack Clifton, 17, said he and his fellow students had been inspired by Mr Langenhoven's story, which he heard at an assembly in the main hall. "I thought it was the best assembly I have seen in quite a while. He spoke about Nelson Mandela and how he went to prison for years, and about equal opportunities. He was pretty passionate about it. "There was a big clap at the end. Everybody thought it was good."
"I thought it was the best assembly I have seen in quite a while.” Jerome joined the crowd of thousands when Mandela was released from prison in 1990. Jerome has been overwhelmed by the response from the students to his assemblies.
Source: www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk
Mr Langenhoven with some of the students