Gert Johannes Gerwel (18 January 1946 – 28 November 2012) known mononymously as Jakes, was a South African academic and anti-apartheid activist. He served as Director-General of the Presidency when Nelson Mandela was in office. In 1999 Gerwel was instrumental in brokering the deal under which Lockerbie bombing suspects were extradited to Scotland.[1] Following Mandela's presidency, Gerwel chaired the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, and also took up a number of academic and business positions until his death in November 2012.[2]
Jakes Gerwel | |
|---|---|
| Director-General, Office of the President of South Africa | |
| In office 1994–1999 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Secretary of the Cabinet, Government of National Unity | |
| In office 1994–1997 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Chancellor, Rhodes University | |
| In office 1999–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Gavin Relly |
| Succeeded by | Lex Mpati |
| Vice-Chancellor, University of the Western Cape | |
| In office 1987–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gert Johannes Gerwel 18 January 1946 Somerset East, South Africa |
| Died | 28 November 2012 (aged 66) Cape Town, South Africa |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | Phoebe Gerwel (née Abrahams) |
| Alma mater | University of Brussels, University of the Western Cape |
| Positions | Global Chairman, Aurecon (2009–2012) Chairman, Media24 (2007-2012) Chairman, South African Airways (2004) Chairperson of Policy Committee, Cricket World Cup (2003) Chair, Human Sciences Research Council (1999–2012) |
Teaching career
editGerwel matriculated from Paterson High School in Port Elizabeth, and in 1967 earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He then lectured at the Hewat Teachers' Training College in Crawford, Cape Town for a short time before receiving a scholarship, in 1971, to study at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). On his return to South Africa, Gerwel first taught at Grassy Park High School and then returned to UWC as a lecturer.[3]
Legacy
editIn 2015 Vanguard Drive, a major road running from Cape Town's southern suburbs to the Cape Flats (the M7 road), was renamed in Jakes Gerwel's honour.[4]
Jakes Gerwel Technical School in Bonnievale, Western Cape is named in after him.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Jakes Gerwel, South African academic who was a friend and aide to Nelson Mandela, dies at 66". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 November 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "Rhodes mourns the passing of its Chancellor". Rhodes University. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ Sapa (29 November 2012). "Sagacious Gerwel leaves rich legacy". The New Age.
- ^ Jan Cronje (18 January 2015). "Vanguard Drive named after Jakes Gerwel". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- ^ "FEEL GOOD | How a tiny rural village came together to build a top Cape high school". Parent. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.