Pretorius laid to rest
Family members and people from all corners of Namibia paid their last respects to Willem Francois Pretorius, better known as Kosie Pretorius, during a service at the Dutch Reformed (NG) Church in Walvis Bay on Saturday.
Pastor Willie Coetzee said the late Pretorius was a peacemaker and an enthusiastic listener.
“He told me once that he observed during parliament sessions and debates that when a person used the word 'but', what followed would actually be what the person intended to say in the first place,” Coetzee recalled.
President Hage Geingob also expressed his condolences to the Pretorius family and paid tribute to the deceased politician in a press release issued on Friday.
The president said the country was dealt a blow upon learning of the passing of Pretorius on 14 July.
He hailed Pretorius as a veteran of the Namibian political sphere and said he played a role in the drafting of the Namibian Constitution and therefore was one of the founders of independent Namibia.
“We agreed to disagree, but agreed to hold hands as Namibians from different persuasion.
His cool-tempered demeanour and his polite disposition impressed me.
He was also steadfast in his views.”
Geingob also said that Pretorius played a role in contributing to Namibia's democracy as a member of parliament.
“He always asked well-researched questions which were never aimed at political point-scoring but were genuinely aimed at seeking clarity on critical issues of national concern.
His intrinsic character allowed him to become a unifier in an independent Namibia,” Geingob said.
OTIS FINCK
Pastor Willie Coetzee said the late Pretorius was a peacemaker and an enthusiastic listener.
“He told me once that he observed during parliament sessions and debates that when a person used the word 'but', what followed would actually be what the person intended to say in the first place,” Coetzee recalled.
President Hage Geingob also expressed his condolences to the Pretorius family and paid tribute to the deceased politician in a press release issued on Friday.
The president said the country was dealt a blow upon learning of the passing of Pretorius on 14 July.
He hailed Pretorius as a veteran of the Namibian political sphere and said he played a role in the drafting of the Namibian Constitution and therefore was one of the founders of independent Namibia.
“We agreed to disagree, but agreed to hold hands as Namibians from different persuasion.
His cool-tempered demeanour and his polite disposition impressed me.
He was also steadfast in his views.”
Geingob also said that Pretorius played a role in contributing to Namibia's democracy as a member of parliament.
“He always asked well-researched questions which were never aimed at political point-scoring but were genuinely aimed at seeking clarity on critical issues of national concern.
His intrinsic character allowed him to become a unifier in an independent Namibia,” Geingob said.
OTIS FINCK
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