Coffee and Conversation with Jan Jordaan
"I just love our community, our people make a plan."
Benoni has character, Benoni has texture, layers and stories to tell and all of these are made up of the incredible people blessed enough to call Benoni home, none more so than attorney Jan Jordaan.
I recently was fortunate enough to share a table and coffee with Mr Jordaan and once the round of cappuccinos and my starter Americano had been ordered and delivered the substance of a very humble, yet sincere man shone through. With a warm smile he recalled the journey from a childhood in Witbank, studying at Tuks and for well over 30 years now he has established himself as a proud Benonian.
With gusto as strong as the Wakame espresso he proudly proclaims that he has been a member of Benoni Northerns running club since 1991 with multiple Comrades under his belt, he will be watching on this year as a recent operation has curtailed his ability to prepare although he is determined to be back next year.
Being a runner means he is no stranger to early mornings and a good coffee, his days are up and running while most of us are still hovering over a kettle for our first brew of the day – once a week he likes to escape on his own for some much needed admin catch up, he prefers to do this out of the office so as not to be disturbed. His current venue of choice is Plaashuis Tee Boutique on 8th Avenue in Northmead. When pushed on his favourite coffee in town, he was very non-commital and stressed to me that the coffee is nowhere nearly as important as the people you’re sharing it with.
As much as the time was spent getting to know Jan Jordaan, he was genuinely interested in our views and stories too. There were too many gems to recall in this column from a man who has witnessed the landscape of our city change so many times and it continues to evolve – “I just love our community, our people make a plan”
What is incredibly evident from my short time with Mr Jordaan is that he is extremely warm to strangers, dedicated to his craft and his clients, passionately devoted to friends and his running comrades, loyal to his community yet his number one priority is family in way that you can only respect.
I sincerely hope I find myself at a table again in the future, not for legal reasons, but merely to enjoy a good coffee and listen to a man who has such a positive outlook on our community and life!
