Warm tributes for long-serving Centurion councillor

The death of well-known local politician Clive Napier has left his friends and colleagues devastated.

The Tshwane metro’s integrated development plan (IDP) committee chairperson died 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 longtime DA ward councillor in Lyttelton, Doornkloof and Die Hoewes.

Mpho Mehlape-Zimu, DA-chairperson for Gauteng North Regional, said members of the party in Gauteng North is “totally heartbroken to learn of the passing of our colleague and friend”.

“Clive was one of the founding members of the Democratic Party (DP) in 1989 and had been serving the DA over many years. He became a councillor in 2000 when the Tshwane metro was formed.

“He was also the chairperson of the IDP standing committee in the Tshwane metro municipality since 2016 when the DA formed a coalition government in Tshwane.”

As a professor, she said, Napier’s research interests was in the broad area of local government and the relevance of political science.

“He obtained his Masters degree in political science at the University of Georgia in Washington DC in the USA and later on studied towards his PhD in African studies at the University of Pretoria.

“Clive had a wealth of knowledge; he was a stalwart in the fight towards democracy and a mentor to many of his colleagues until this day.”

She said Napier’s “record of unconditional and dedicated public service was a demonstration of his commitment to fight against corruption and help build a South Africa for all”.

She said Napier leaves his DA colleagues, family and friends in mourning, while still honoured to have known and worked with him.

“We hope his soul finds everlasting peace. He will never be forgotten,” Mehlape-Zimu concluded.

Centurion DA-councillor of ward 57, David Farquharson, said the news of Napier’s 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 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.

“Clive 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,” he said.

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, and later branch chairman”.

“Thank you for coaching me, fighting with me, having endless coffees with me, sharing a few red wines with me, always being 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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