Former mayor of Benoni Louis Swart dies

He was born on November 12, 1926, matriculated from Hoërskool Brandwag and graduated from the Witwatersrand Technical College.

Swart served the community at the Benoni Fire Station as a young man, followed by a position as an apprentice artisan, at Benoni Engineering, and he later qualified as a molder.

Working his way up to the position of superintendent of the foundry, he completed 43 years of service.

In 1977 Swart joined the Benoni Town Council, representing Ward 13.

In 1980 he became deputy mayor of Benoni, and was appointed mayor in 1981.

“His strong presence in the town gave him an uncanny ability to ferret out what many would have preferred to see unpublished; his tenacity made his name a legend in the industry,” said Syd Gill, editor and general manager of the City Times at the time.

In 1982 Swart took early retirement to fulfil his mayoral duties.

He married Anna Elizabeth Steyn on March 8, 1952, celebrating their 61st anniversary this year.

Swart is survived by Anna, three children, Louis, Johann and Anne, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, soon to be eight.

“He fulfilled his dream of serving the community of Benoni in the honourable position of mayor,” said Anna.

“To know him was to love him; he was a good husband and dedicated father and great-grandfather.”

“Dad taught me to accept people the way they are — if they behave differently it does not mean they are wrong,” is his son, Louis’s, memory of him.

“My Oupa was an extraordinary person and an important influence in my life,” said his granddaughter, Roxanne Ettershank.

Swart enjoyed fishing, chess, golf, camping and caravanning as hobbies.

In 2007 he was awarded with a citation of honour at the Benoni Centenary Celebration, as a token of recognition and appreciation for outstanding civic and community service.

Swart’s funeral service was held at the Airport Christian Fellowship Church, in Bonaero Park, on Thursday, September 19.