Philantropic Gerhard Swart buried at Levubu

The late Gerhard Swart, who dedicated his entire life to changing the lives of disadvantaged people in Vhembe and, in the process, touched many lives, was laid to rest at the Levubu cemetery.

This was after a funeral service held at the local Levubu Community Hall on Friday afternoon. Swart (50) of Shayandima, passed away on 28 January after a long but unspecified illness. His death comes barely six months after the death of his wife, Regina.

During a funeral that resembled the colours of the rainbow, with people of all races in attendance, speakers described him as a humble, generous and dedicated person who had a golden heart full of ubuntu. Veteran politician and a leader of the Lutheran Church, Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, compared Swart to the late anti-apartheid activist Rev (Dr) Beyers Naudé, an Afrikaner who, together with others, stood his ground against apartheid when it was not fashionable to do so.

Farisani said with the "demon of racial hatred is raising its head again in the country, Swart was the catalyst and building brick that God had used to build a foundation to a better nation. When I first met him many years ago I could see ubuntu in him. He was accommodative and did not see a person by colour, but regarded a person as a human being. I am making an appeal to the community, especially Vhembe where he touched so many lives, to let his name live on forever”. 

Long-time friend Cobus du Plessis said Swart’s death had left a void in his heart. “He was always there when one needed him. He was always ready to help and we will miss him dearly,” he said.

On behalf of the staff at NTK, Muledane Converse Nekhwevha said all the staff were saddened by his death. “He was like a father to all of us. He always preached unity among the staff and the greatest honour we can give him is to remain united as he would have wished,” he said.

Date:12 February 2016

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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