Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo today expressed his sadness at the passing away of Ambassador Henry Bennadict (Benny) de Bruyn on Friday, 11 June 1999, following a long illness.
"Until recently, Mr de Bruyn served as South Africa's first Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he was very successful in cementing relations between the two countries. He will be missed by us all," Minister Nzo said.
Prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr de Bruyn, a longstanding and active member of the ANC, had represented the movement in several capacities while in exile. From 1984 to 1991 he was the ANC's Chief Representative to Italy and was simultaneously accredited to the Vatican and the Republic of San Marino. During this period, Mr de Bruyn was also a member of various ANC delegations to the United Nations General Assembly.
After his recall to ANC headquarters in 1991, Mr de Bruyn served in the ANC's Department of International Affairs and then as the organisation's Chief Representative to Kenya.
Minister Nzo expressed his own and his Department's deepest sympathy to Mr de Bruyn's widow, Sophia, their children and grandchildren.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
14 JUNE 1999