The death of well-known local politician Clive Napier has left his friends and colleagues devastated.
The Tshwane metro’s integrated development plan committee chairperson passed away on Tuesday in a Pretoria hospital due to Covid-19, according to Tshwane DA chief whip Christo van den Heever.
Napier, a retired professor emeritus of the
University of South-Africa (Unisa) in the political science department, had also been a long time DA ward councillor in Lyttelton, Doornkloof and Die Hoewes.
Centurion ward 57 councillor David Farquharson said the news of his passing had left many shocked and devastated.
“Clive went for his Covid-19 vaccination and contracted the virus 12 days after that.
“He was then admitted to hospital for a little more than a week, and yesterday (Tuesday), we received the shocking news.
“He was a perfect, liberal gentleman. The best time he seemed to have had was being an exchange student in the USA. He saw Jimmy Carter and was introduced to the now-American president Joe Biden.”
Farquharson said the trip made a big impression on Napier as a formative experience of his life.
“Napier was an inspiration to many people in the Progressive Federal Party, Democratic Party and the DA.
“I have wonderful memories of working with him,” Farquharson said.
“He was a friend of the Smuts House and a founder and friend of the Groenkloof nature reserve. He was a vegetarian and loved good wine.”
Another local councillor who saluted Napier was Ina Strijdom, DA councillor for ward 66.
Strijdom treasured the memory of Napier lobbying her as a DA member “but ended up coaching me and I became branch vice-chair”.
“Thank you for coaching me, fighting with me, having endless coffees with me, sharing a few red wines with me, always there to advise.
“And for changing my mind that politicians are not empty-headed as I used to believe, they are people who want to make a difference.”
Strijdom said the DA lost a huge pillar and “a walking political book of knowledge. Rest in peace.”
According to Farquharson, Napier leaves behind a sister and his two dogs “who are very well looked after”.
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