Tribute to dedicated Wierdabrug community protector
Adriaan Spies was a well-respected and dedicated CPF secretary with a passion for his community.
Wierdabrug CPF sector 1, 2 and 3 as well as local police and private security honoured the life and dedication of Adriaan Spies with a touching honorary patrol on Friday night, October 27.
Spies died at 72 years of age on October 23 following a long period of ill health and was buried on Saturday, October 28.
Spies moved to Wierdapark from Danville 24 years ago and was described as always willing to help, and deeply caring for those around him.
Fellow CPF member and friend, Kristie van den Berg said Spies was a real people-person. “I remember that after there had been an incident, he would always visit the victims to check that they were okay. He would try and convince them to get counselling – we lost a good soul,” said Van den Berg.
He said Spies was instrumental in the growth and success of the CPF and was involved in food schemes during the Covid-19 pandemic, doing training sessions with new members and taking on difficult shifts to help protect the 36 square kilometres of the sector.
Spies became ill in 2021, yet remained dedicated to the safety of his community throughout.
“During his illness, he still came to patrol. He often went out from 20:00 just to check for any gates that had been left open. It meant a lot to him. He was a precise, strategic and extremely detailed person. He was a go-getter and a driver,” said Van den Berg.
He was retired but performed his role on the CPF as if it was his full-time job.
Spies leaves behind his wife, Rina Spies, and two daughters, Adèle Fleming and Erika Visagie and their families.
Fleming described her father as a loyal man, with a lust for life and being available for anyone who needed him. “He was the glue of our community,” Fleming said. “He was always working on something in the community, he was always willing to help.
“He could never sit still, he always had to be doing something. He found being sick very frustrating because he wanted to get out there. He never gave up, he was always there for us, at school, and church. We couldn’t have asked for a better dad.”
His family said that he had countless files of documents on the CPF and was incredibly thorough and dedicated to his role.
“He enjoyed it, it was a sense of purpose to him,” said Fleming.
“Oom Adriaan has been a dedicated CPF member for some time, a committed patroller, offering his time, experience and resources whenever and wherever needed,” said Wierdabrug CPF Sector 3 chairperson, John Wright.
“I vividly recall him attending a street braai to recruit new CPF members at a time when Sector CPF numbers were dwindling.
“His enthusiasm and dedication towards the CPF and the community won my commitment to the CPF over that evening. Oom Adriaan, you have been a doyen of the CPF and will be dearly missed.”
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