Many gathered at the VGK Church in Promosa, as they came to pay their final respects to the late alderman Adolf David Willemse. Willemse passed away on 21 August, due to organ failure and his funeral was held on Saturday, 31 August.
Here’s a tribute from his son-in-law, Glenville Fransman:
Tell me, how do I say goodbye to a leader who became a father, who in turn, became a friend, mentor and my confidant? Rest in Peace Alderman Adolf Willemse. Our legend and my hero.
Our journey started when I was a teenager in the 90’s, while they were campaigning during elections. My group of friends and I would always pass-by his home in the Grens, not knowing that one day I will be married to one of his daughters. He, my uncle Nimrod, the late Charlene Hendriks and Dawie Schoeman recruited me to be a part of the political party in 2009 and that’s when our journey started. As the alderman was very busy in the community, we established a lot of organisations and NGOs in Promosa.
He taught me about leadership, commitment and dedication to our political party, the Democratic Alliance, as well as to the congregations and serving people and the community wholeheartedly. For myself it was a great honour and pleasure to have known such a great man and serve with in many organisations of the society.
A big thanks to the Promosa Ministers’ Fraternal for arranging such an auspicious memorial service and giving to some community organisations an opportunity to pay tribute at the service. Thanks to my provincial leader, former politicians, pastors, businessmen and fellow councillors for attending the funeral. The family and friends of the late Alderman Adolf Willemse wish to thank all for their prayers, calls, SMS’s, visits, the flowers, your support and presence during the planning and delivering of the funeral service. In addition, a special thanks to the church council, VGK, the Potchefstroom Herald, the municipalities, colleagues from NWU and all community members who worked in the background preparing the hall and food after the funeral.
What’s also profound for us as the family is when there was food left after the funeral, we went to give to the needy and hungry people of Marikana and Bapei and I think that’s what our beloved father Daddy Dolf would have wanted.
