This is how Alberton will remember the great Johann van der Merwe
He will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the Alberton Greats of all times.
Alberton woke up on the morning of April 20 to the sad news of the death of Johann van der Merwe.
He died at his home in the Alberton Retirement Village in Verwoerdpark, Alberton.
A trip down memory lane through the life and times of this extraordinary man:
Johannes Frederik van der Merwe’s life journey started in Johannesburg on June 13, 1936. He completed his secondary education at the Hoër Seunsskool Helpmekaar.
Climbing the ladder
His first acquaintance at first hand with local government happened in 1957 when he entered the service of the Town Council of Klerksdorp and later the Town Council of Alberton on October 1,1960.
He moved then to greener pastures in the world of marketing and business.
In the late seventies, he took over the reign and management of the Alberton Record and Caxton Southern papers as manager until his retirement after the start of the new millennium.
Career in local council
Local government, however, made a lasting impression on him and he entered local politics with his election as Town Councillor of Alberton on March 8, 1972.
His untiring diligence in the furtherance of local government was soon recognised and he served in several capacities, with the ultimate achievement his election to the high office of president of the then Transvaal Municipal Association in October 1989.
He also served on the United Municipal executive since 1980.
The necessity of collective action by local authorities, especially labour matters, was identified by him early in his local political career and he played a leading role in the establishment of the Municipal Employers Association during 1979/1980 of which he was chairman.
Thereafter in the next two decades he served in most of the highest local government governing bodies in the country mostly of which as chairman, namely the National Training Board, the National Co-ordinating Training Committee, Council for the Co-ordinating of Local Government Affairs, East Rand Regional Services Council, Johannesburg Metropolitan Transport Advisory Board and several others where he engraved his footsteps. He retired from active involvement in local politics with the advent of the new dispensation in the country during the mid-nineties.
A man of many talents
His services became in demand in other spheres as well and he was appointed on several boards: the National Manpower Commission, Defence Manpower Liaison Committee, Council of the Rand Afrikaans University, The Board of the then Transvaal Rugby Football Union to name but a few.
His active involvement in all these matters did, however, not prevent him from promoting the interests of all sections of the community of Alberton. This was reflected in his chairmanship of the Alberton Home of the Aged for several terms, membership of several governing boards of local schools and honorary presidency of approximately 13 sport clubs during the years.
Apart from this he served as commanding officer of the Alberton Commando for two terms and also saw active military service on the northern borders of the then South West Africa. The Chief of the South African Defence Force’s commendation medal as well as the coveted pro-patria medal were bestowed on him.
Meet alderman Van der Merwe
The highest honour to any citizen of a town, namely the Freedom of the Town of Alberton, was bestowed on Alderman JFM van der Merwe at a special meeting of the Alberton Town Council on June 13, 1990, incidentally on his 54th birthday.
That was, in terms of a Council resolution of February 28, 1990, “in recognition of his untiring diligence in furthering the prosperity and growth of Alberton, his meritorious leadership in a great diversity of high offices in the private, public and local government sectors, his leading role in the promotion of local government in South Africa and as a token of appreciation of the selfless service which he renders with dedication to all sections of the community of Alberton”.
Thereby, the Council conferred upon him the honorary freedom of the town and admitted him to be an Honorary Freeman of Aberton. On that day he became only the fourth Honorary Freeman in the history of Alberton.
His predecessors were Mr CJ Fuchs in 1973, Mr Ian Smith, Prime Minister of the then Rhodesia in 1979 and Mr Willem Cruywagen, administrator of the then Transvaal Province in 1986.
Alberton salutes a great man
This honour testified that Johann van der Merwe served the interest of the community of Alberton with total commitment, so much so that he was fondly well-known as “Mr Alberton”.
He was the one and only Johann van der Merwe and there never was and will never be another Johann van der Merwe. His life and times will live on in the hearts of his beloved family, the community of Alberton and each and every one who had the honour and privilege to cross his life path. He will undoubtedly be remembered in the annals of Alberton history as one of the Alberton Greats of all times. Alberton salutes a great man.
*He leaves behind his two daughters Corlia Olson and Anette Mogridge, two grandchildren Cheree Dowie and Bronwyn Crawford and two great-great-grandchildren Harlee and Emme Dowie, who will all sadly miss him.
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To his family he was simply Pappa, Daddy, Skat, Oupie!
