Pauline Duncan – A woman of substance: Hamba kahle Mrs D

Pauline Duncan, the former mayor of Port Shepstone, who died peacefully at home last Thursday (May 6), was a woman of substance.

A woman with incredible principles and values.

A woman with great compassion for others.

A woman who was courageous.

A woman who fought against injustice.

A woman who cared about her community.

A woman who was an exceptional teacher.

A woman who was an extraordinary friend.

And she was a good mother and a loving grandmother.

Pauline was born in Kokstad on April 20, 1944.

Her father was the principal veterinarian in the then Basutoland (Lesotho) and part of her early schooling was at Maseru Primary where all the grades were housed in one classroom with a single teacher. Pauline completed high school at Queenstown Girls’ High. She trained as a teacher at Durban Training College where she majored in English and History.

After she married she lived in Barberton. In 1970 she found herself in a difficult situation – she had a young daughter, Jennifer, was pregnant with her second child and really poor. Her only option was to relocate to the South Coast to live with her parents Paul and Bobs Brown in St Michaels-on-Sea. After Helen was born she moved into a tiny cottage, Thokoza, in Fleet Street – it (the cottage) started life as a garage and like Topsy “it grew and grew”.

It was in this cottage that Pauline vowed to reach out to others. She was overwhelmed to find her little kitchen and pantry had been stocked by the community, they had even left chocolates – a luxury – on the table with a note to welcome her.

There were no teaching posts available so Pauline cleaned holiday cottages until she was offered a two month locum stint at Port Shepstone Junior Primary. She was promoted to Head of Department in 1977 and in 1990 appointed principal at PSJP. She was the perfect person to lead the little school through its transition to a fully integrated facility.

She joined the Jaycees organisation where she shone as a debater and a public speaker. In 1986 she became involved with Operation Community Upliftment where she was in charge of the education portfolio. Pauline began sewing classes at Fairview Mission and headed up the literacy classes held at the newly-founded Mbango Valley Association.

Her dear friend, Sybil Seaton, an estate agent who sold Pauline a house, had been inducted as the mayor of Port Shepstone in 1987 and she asked Pauline to be her mayoress. One of her duties was to organise the annual Mayoress’s Fete, she did it with such flair and it was transformed from a little country fair into an event-of-the-year.

This was her introduction to local government and in 1988 Sybil persuaded her to stand for council. She did, as an independent, and won a seat. Throughout her years as a councillor she remained independent and was never aligned to any political party. Pauline served three terms as mayor from 1995. It was during her first term as mayor that the Shobashobane Christmas Day massacre took place.

Pauline did sterling work caring for the displaced families. She resigned as a councillor in 1999. As the town’s first citizen she will best be remembered for breaking down barriers and uniting the fractured community. And during her time in office NPS 1 was a little white car – driven by the mayor without a bodyguard. Sadly, she was not granted Alderman status in recognition of the role she had played and the service she had given to the local council. It was not granted as she had served some of her time under the ‘past regime’.

Pauline also worked tirelessly for South Coast Hospice – together with Kath Defilippi they embarked on a huge project in 1989 – to buy a house in Connor Street to use as the association’s head-quarters. They asked people to give them a 10-year interest free loan of a R1 000. The project succeeded beyond their wildest dreams and they were able to also purchase the neighbouring property which now houses Kingfisher House. Pauline served as chairman of hospice for many years.

Apart from being a school principal, a Rotarian and a hospice volunteer she was involved with the Lower South Coast Education Initiative. One of its accomplishments was the completion of the Gamalakhe College of Education and the establishment of the Total Education Development Centre (TEDC). The TEDC was an active training centre and was also used as the venue to train taxi drivers. For many years Pauline co-chaired the Port Shepstone Taxi Transport Forum.

Other initiatives spearheaded by her included Project Qhakaza that promoted keeping schools clean and attractive and COLTS – Culture of Learning and Teaching Services. Aids awareness campaigns also received her attention not only as a facilitator, she was very hands on. Armed with a camera and bags of sweets for the children (who opened and closed gates) many regarded her as “a crazy woman” driving to remote areas, where trees and rocks were her directional markings, to visit and help communities in need.

Young people have always held a special place in Pauline’s life and in 1997 she initiated the Port Shepstone Junior Council aimed at getting young people being consulted and involved in civic affairs. Even after her resignation from council she continued to offer guidance.

Pauline was never interested in rewards and recognition for what she did. “My reward is in the smiles of the people,” she would say. However, the Rotary Club of Port Shepstone honoured her with a well-deserved Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 1997. She was inducted as a Rotarian the following year.

After her retirement from teaching her days of being a pensioner did not include sitting on a beach. She was busier than ever. Pauline devoted much time to Teachers Across Borders South Africa (TABSA) and the Port Shepstone Twinning Association of which she was a founding member with Gulshera Khan.

When former South Coaster, Yunus Peer, head of social studies at Punahou School (Barack Obama’s alma mater) in Honolulu in Hawaii, brought the first group of TABSA teachers to South Africa, he chose his hometown and Pauline was his go to person to co-ordinate the project.

In her latter years her sister Veryll Sutherland came to live with her and despite her own failing health she looked after her ill sister.

When the time came for Pauline to be cared for daughter Jennifer Duncan and grandson Calvin came to live with her.

She once said: “Let me look back and to my conscience say – “Because of some kind act to man or beast, the world is better that I lived today.” She certainly abided by that philosophy.

Be at peace dear and gentle Mrs D.

Pauline leaves behind two daughters Jennifer Duncan and Helen da Silva, who lives in Australia and four grandchildren, Simone, Deryn, Calvin and Joel.

Her funeral service takes place at the Norwegian Settlers’ Church on Thursday (May 20) at 2.30pm. Covid regulations apply. Please RSVP attendance to 082 9278618.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram