Former Tshwane MMC remembered as committed civil servant and loving father
While many knew him as an MMC and ward councillor, Phillip Nel was a father of four, grandfather of 10 and a husband to his wife of 50 years.
Former Tshwane utilities and regional operations MMC Phillip Nel, who died last week, will be remembered as a committed civil servant, who loved his family and was dedicated to making a difference in Pretoria.
Nel passed away last week Thursday at the age of 73, just two weeks before his 74th birthday on May 7.
The Pretoria east ward 42 councillor had been ill for some time and had been hospitalised since January.
While many knew him as an MMC and ward councillor, he was a father of four, grandfather of 10 and a husband to his wife of 50 years.
His daughter, Ina Knobel, described her father as a hard-working, highly organised, disciplined man who was passionate about serving his community.
“He always placed a very high premium on honesty, even if that would have meant that some people might have felt uncomfortable at times,” she said.
Nel’s career started in 1970 in the small mining town of Cullinan, north-east of Pretoria where he also met his wife, Elsa.
He worked as an electrical engineer at the Premier Diamond mine in partial fulfilment of his bursary responsibilities to Anglo American.
Thereafter, he took up numerous managerial positions for companies such as the National Film Board, Kentron (Pty) Ltd, as well as Eloptro (Pty) Ltd.
For about 10 years, between 1991 and 2001, he was employed in different managerial positions at companies specialising in air-conditioning.
Later in his career, he spent a few years at Chubb Security’s fire division and Denel Aviation, once again in managerial positions.
In 2006, he joined the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) as the executive director for operations and two years later as director of estates and facilities management at the University of Pretoria (UP).
“Our father always had a keen interest in politics and was proudly South African,” Knobel recalled.
“Upon retirement, he had an opportunity to actively serve as a ward councillor.”
Nel’s dedication did not go unseen. In 2020, he was elected to serve as an MMC for utilities and regional operations.
He had just been selected to serve for a second term before his illness.
As a father, Nel was said to have been a firm man who always expected a lot from his children.
In the same way that he organised his career and working life, he organised and planned regular family holidays.
“On our first family tour of Europe, when we were still very young, he would give each of us a task and a responsibility,” Knobel fondly remembered.
“Keep in mind that this was long before smartphones, Google Maps and GPS. So, each of us would get a printed street map of a major city to study – so that as a family we would be empowered to navigate all those cities.
“We had a lot of respect for him. Even though he was a very busy man; if one of us was in trouble or needed to talk to him, he would make time for us – even after midnight on some occasions.”
In addition to being a wonderful father, Nel was also an exceptional grandfather of 10.
Knobel said even though the family was sad at Nel’s passing, they would forever cherish the many happy memories they shared and were grateful for the full life he had.
Even on his sickbed, Nel attended council meetings virtually.
“It is quite amazing that despite being so busy and committed, he still managed to find balance in life and to make time for the people close to him,” Knobel said.
“We never doubted his love for us,” Knobel said.
A service will be held for Nel on Friday.
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