Eulogy for Wayne Jordaan

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The public funeral service for Mossel Bay Ward 9 ANC chairman Wayne Jordaan (56) took place on Saturday, 17 September, at the St Blaize Catholic Church in Sampson Street, Extension 23.

Jordaan passed away on Tuesday, 13 September, of suspected heart failure.

PHOTO GALLERY: Touching tribute to ANC stalwart Wayne Jordaan

A number of those present at the funeral wore the yellow, green and black colours of the ANC. Especially poignant was the handing over of an ANC flag to Jordaan's sister, Shjanneil Busch, to drape over the coffin outside the church.

Jordaan was respected as an ANC stalwart who assisted people and communities with land claims. He was a well-read intellectual and a pillar of the community, who encouraged the younger generation to read and to play chess. He gave children maths lessons - often at no cost.

Outside the St Blaize Church, Mkhonto we Sizwe members in camouflage helped to regulate traffic and guide the motorcade.

Just before the public service, a private, home family service was held for Jordaan. Pastor Leon Prinsloo, of the AGS Greenhaven church in Great Brak, gave the message.

Inside the St Blaize Church, the flower arrangements were green and yellow, together with black decorations, representing the ANC colours. There were large vases of long-stemmed yellow roses for loved ones to lay on the coffin.

Father Larry Kaufman (Roman Catholic) and Father Robin du Plessis (Anglican) officiated at the public funeral. Pastor Duncan Jordaan (AGS church, Melkhoutfontein) gave a vote of thanks.

Wayne Jordaan

Shjanneil Busch, Wayne Jordaan's sister, receiving the ANC flag to drape over the coffin. Photo: Dexter Brinkhuis

Eulogy for Wayne Jordaan

Here follows Wayne Jordaan's youngest brother Envor Brinkhuis' eulogy for Wayne. Alistair Brinkhuis, a cousin of Wayne and Envor, read it on Envor's behalf at the funeral.

Thank you, father and canon for allowing us to pay tribute to our brother and friend in this special way.

These words from our late, great leader Chris Hani sum up perfectly, in a nutshell, what Wayne had been striving and living for:

"Socialism is not about big concepts and heavy theory. Socialism is about decent shelter for those who are homeless.

"It is about water for those who have no safe drinking water. It is about health care; it is about a life of dignity for the old. It is about overcoming the huge divide between urban and rural areas. It is about a decent education for all our people.

"Socialism is about rolling back the tyranny of the Market. As long as the economy is dominated by an unelected, privileged few, the case for socialism will exist."

Wayne William Noel Jordaan was born on 25 December 1965, the son of the late Duncan Brinkhuis and Frances Jordaan, also known fondly as Mamsie, as she was a mother to all.

Wayne had a humble upbringing.

He attended Diaz Primary School and later Sao Bras Secondary and Pacaltsdorp High to obtain his Matric.

He graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a Bachelor of Science degree.

From a very young age Wayne showed a curiosity to always learn more and this learning journey he satisfied and sustained through copious amounts of reading and research.

This journey also ignited Wayne’s interest in politics and drove him to actively become involved in repealing social injustice and freeing our people from the oppressive shackles of Apartheid.

There are two things which remained a constant throughout Wayne’s life: his unfailing love for his beloved party, the African National Congress, whom he served with humility and vigour and his football club, Tottenham Hotspur. (This football club support led to heated debates and near fist fights with his youngest brother Envor, who fortunately was the wiser by following the red side of Manchester.)

Wayne had a deep passion for the restitution of land rights of the previously disadvantaged.

There are numerous communities whom he assisted with their successful land claims that still refer to him to this day with great affection, as “Meester Wayne”.

He also had a vision that children should be introduced to reading and numeracy at a very young age and that this would lay the foundation for a solid society, whose capabilities are entrenched for the better and would lead to continuous community improvement.

To this end he would deliver mathematics and science tutoring to the local community, many times free of charge.

To our family, Wayne was the voice of reason that would always first digest and decode a specific piece of information before unpacking it for us in a clear and concise manner.

Heated debate never fazed him and he always remained cool, calm and collected.

To us he was our Super Wayne, whom we gladly shared with the rest of the world.

We are saddened by the loss of our dear brother, but we are also grateful to our heavenly Father who saw it fit to bless our family with this genius and humble son of the soil.

Rest easy, dear brother.

Enjoy the joyful reunion, fellowship and endless debates with Nicklo, Nankies, Maleier and Datie. [These four friends of Jordaan passed away during the last few years: Nicklo Pedro, Nankies - Fernandez Pedro, Maleier - Jovan Bruinders and Datie - Winston October. They were all ANC cadres with Jordaan in their younger days.]

Please say hi to Mamsie, Pa and Ouma G for us.

Till we meet again in the Upper Room.

“Tell my people that I love them and that they must continue the struggle; my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Aluta continua.…”

Amandla!

Alistair Brinkhuis, a cousin of Wayne Jordaan, reading the eulogy on behalf of Envor Brinkhuis. Photo: Dexter Brinkhuis