MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Bruce Kannemeyer, a well-known face in national, provincial and local government, passed away on Friday, 17 January. Kannemeyer was born in Mossel Bay.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ANC Western Cape said it mourns the passing of Comrade Kannemeyer, “a loyal servant of the people and a committed advocate for unity and justice”.

“Comrade Kannemeyer’s life was rooted in the struggles and triumphs of his community.”

The All Saints Anglican Parish Mossel Bay said it was with sadness that it informed the community of Kannemeyer’s death. The parish said he was the brother of Bishop Allan Kannemeyer (Bishop of Pretoria).

“Please pray for his children as well as the whole Kannemeyer family. Notices regarding the funeral arrangements will follow later.”

According to the ANC Western Cape’s statement, Kannemeyer began his journey as a teacher in the Boland during the 1980s, where he became an active member of the Western Cape Teachers Union (WECTU) “and played a key role in the establishment of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), empowering educators during a critical time in our country’s history”.

“During the democratic transition, Comrade Kannemeyer served as an ANC transitional councillor and later as a mayor, where he worked tirelessly to lay the foundations for inclusive governance. 

"In 1999, he was elected to parliament as an ANC MP, representing the Western Cape constituency. He served in the National Assembly until 2004, contributing to the development of policies that strengthened local government and uplifted communities.

“After leaving parliament, the ANC deployed him to local government, where he served as municipal manager in Stellenbosch and later in the Free State. He also worked as a consultant, providing critical support to municipalities in the Eastern and Western Cape.

“In his last position, Comrade Kannemeyer served as Senior Local Government Consultant for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), where his expertise in governance and administration made a significant impact.

“He also served as an advisor on governance issues to the office of the Provincial Secretary. In his final years, he played a key role in assisting the current Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), particularly the Provincial Secretary, on governance issues. “His wealth of experience and guidance were instrumental in navigating the challenges faced by the movement and the province.”