The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The African National Congress is shocked and saddened by the untimely
death of Professor Jakes Gerwel, who died in the early hours of today
(Wednesday,28 November 2012) morning at the Kuilsriver Hospital.

Prof Gerwel was reported to be in a critical condition on Tuesday after he
underwent heart surgery. He died at the age of 66 year.

Prof Gerwel was elected a member of the ANC's Western Cape regionalcommittee in 1991.


He served as the Director General in the office of President Nelson
Mandela. Prof Gerwel served President Nelson Mandela with distinction in
his public office as well as in retirement.  He played a defining role in
the administration and development of policy options of the democratic
government as the first Director General and Cabinet Secretary. During his
time in government, he named crime and unemployment as two areas of
concern.

He was a Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mandela Rhodes
Foundation and played a defining role in the administrative and policy options of
government.

He was an academic, executive and multi-award winner. His awards include
the Order of Southern Cross from Mandela, the Order of Good Deeds from
Libya and Freedom of the Town from Somerset East.


Prof. Gerwel served as the Chancellor of Rhodes University until 2012. He
was also a Distinguished Professor of Humanities at the University of the
Western Cape, Honorary Professor of Humanities at the University of
Pretoria, and Chairman of the Human Sciences Research Council. He served
as a Non-Executive Director of Naspers Limited and Old Mutual, and as
Chairman of Media24 Limited.  He also served as the chairman for the Allan Gray
Orbis Foundation, and chairman of the board of trustees for the Nelson
Mandela Centre of Memory.


He was a well-known figure in South Africa's political history and in his
later years, he chaired and was on the board of major organisations and
corporations.


In the late 1960s, he became involved in the Black Consciousness Movement.
He became an educational advisor to the South African Students'
Organisation (Saso) in the early 1970s.