Community members, CPF representatives, security organisations, friends and family braved the biting cold on Friday evening to gather at the corner of Sonskyn and Aquarius roads in Sunward Park for a candlelight ceremony honouring the life of 75-year-old Andries Vermaak, affectionately known as Oom Andries.

Vermaak went missing earlier this month, prompting an extensive community search involving residents, security companies and volunteers from surrounding areas.

His body was found in the spruit at Bokkie Park on August 12, 10 days after he went missing.

The ceremony included prayers, a moment of silence and tributes to a man remembered for his friendly nature and strong connection to the community.

Trevor Ackerman, director of Community Safety Network (CSN), who was involved in the search, thanked everyone who joined the effort to find Vermaak.

“We came together tonight as a community to say goodbye, with a candlelight ceremony and a bit of prayer, and to show our support to the bereaved family,” said Ackerman.

He described the search as a powerful demonstration of community solidarity, saying residents from Sunward Park and surrounding areas, including Villa Lisa, Dawn Park, Windmill Park and Vosloorus, joined forces with security companies to search for Vermaak.

“We all worked together. Us as the community must stand together. We must protect ourselves and protect our neighbours,” he said.

Ackerman also remembered Vermaak as a familiar and friendly face who had owned a video shop in the area and continued greeting residents long after his retirement.

“He was a pillar of our community. We all knew him quite well and he was always there for everyone,” he said.

Reverend Dirk Human said while the community had gathered to remember Vermaak’s life, there was also heartbreak that the search had not ended differently.

“We would have loved the outcome of the search to have been different, but we also thank God that there is a little bit of closure for the family now,” said Human.

Vermaak’s daughter, Cherie van de Venter, fought back tears as she thanked the community for standing with the family throughout the ordeal.

“I thank you all for praying, for supporting us, for searching and for standing together as a community,” she said. It’s God’s work that we are here together… I hope we will continue to stay together as a community,” she said.

Background

Vermaak, who suffered from dementia, went missing from his Sunward Park home on August 2. He lived with his daughter, Chérie van de Venter, and had previously occasionally left the house, with his family usually finding him within a few hours. Concern grew when he failed to return, making it the longest period he had ever been missing.

Ackerman also urged residents to immediately report missing persons to SAPS, stressing that there is no waiting period before a missing-person case can be opened.

The Boksburg Advertiser understands that police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Vermaak’s death. Further details will be reported as they become available.

Also Read: How to report a missing person