Former mall manager killed in crash
Leonie Martin was the much-loved and friendly face of the Hibiscus Mall for many years.
Former Hibiscus Mall manager, Leonie Martin (62) was killed last Sunday morning on the N3/M13 split in Paradise Valley, west of Durban.
At the time of the accident, she was travelling on a motorcycle with her friend, Wayne Vorster (56) from Amanzimtoti.
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Shawn Herbst of Netcare 911 said reports from the scene indicated that the driver of the motorcycle had lost control of the machine and crashed into the safety barrier.
Both died at the scene.
Wayne’s son, Kyle told the Herald that detectives and a doctor had said the accident had probably been caused by a heart-attack.
“The paramedics also suspected this, but we will only know for certain once we get the postmortem report,” he said.
Kyle added his father was a ‘great dad’ to him and his sister, Chantelle.
Leonie led a colourful life, and was described by her son, Kim (39) as the ‘life of the party.’
Her daughter, Lana flew in from the UK on Tuesday this week after hearing the tragic news.
Leonie was the much-loved and friendly face of the Hibiscus Mall for 25 years, and left the coast in 2016 to run a guest house in the Seychelles.
When she returned to South Africa, she lived with her ex-husband Ralf in Sedgefield in the Western Cape, where Kim and his family also live.
Leonie was a ‘fitness queen’, and over the years collected many medals for her sporting achievements – including in The Argus and Tour Durban.
She was a certified Reebok Fitness Instructor and travelled to Germany and India to teach.
Many will remember her as being the dynamic studio instructor at Superbodies, Margate.
She was also the owner of The Bodi Shoppe Workout Studio and Boot Camp SA Rangeview.
Leonie was a talented and creative person and designed jewellery which she sold at craft markets, malls and online, and this also took her to the UK, Germany and Hong Kong.
Kim said she had passed on her love for making jewellery to his daughter, Leonie (11).
Lana said her mother had also passed on her love for music to her grandson, Kai (3), and her love for craft and ‘bling’ to her granddaughter, Olivia (5).
“They say only the good die young, and my mom was the very best of the best – unbelievably loved by her family, and everyone who knew her,” aid Lana.
“She had such a gigantic heart and wicked sense of humour. No one could ever fill the void she left in our lives and our hearts.”
Leonie’s memorial service will be held at the Ramsgate ski-boat bay beach this Saturday (January 18) at 3pm.
The family asks that no one wears black but rather something bright, sparkly or colourful, as they will be celebrating her life.
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