Farewell to Southern business woman

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Tina Booysen (64) passed away on Tuesday morning, December 29, after a full and vibrant life. She will always be remembered for being a woman who always spoke her mind and told it as it was.

Tina was born in Rhodesia as Catharina Hendrina Britz, moving to South Africa a short while later. She had a brother Kivy, who has since passed away and a sister, Shirley. She grew up in Turffontein and Kenilworth area and attended Forest High School when she was known as “Cathy”.

Tina met her husband, Bennie Booysen, who was a professional football player at the time, and they married in 1971. Their son, Benny Jr, was born in 1972 and their daughter, Toni, in 1974. The Booysen family lived in Mondeor for many years.

Tina started her career at a well known men’s clothing store, Deans, in Johannesburg CBD. Later she worked at Merbuild where her passion for building and construction began. Merbuild partnered with Sandy Grey, and went on to establish and open the townships in Bracken, building most of the first homes in Brackenhurst and Brackendowns.

Wanting to work closer to home, and being a mother of two, Tina decided to take her career in another direction and bought a clothing and haberdashery shop called The Bow-tique from her dear friend Sybil Cunningham. The store also stocked school uniforms for many local schools in Johannesburg South.

“My mom knew everybody and she really played a part in the community. I’m sure many residents will remember my mom and the shop,” said Toni. Tina was well known in the Mondeor community due to her dynamic and vibrant personality and brilliant organisational skills. She often helped out at the Mondeor Meteors Soccer Club by volunteering in the tuck shop. She also helped with the Mondeor Primary and Mondeor High fashion shows and fund-raising initiatives, always getting the local parents involved in upgrading the sports field, schools and community facilities.

Whilst having the shop, she began a construction company with a good family friend, Louis Rushin. Over the years, they built many homes and townhouses in Mondeor, Alan Manor, Ridgeway, Mulbarton and Glenvista, and ran a small real estate company to sell the homes. Her son often helped on the construction sites and Toni in the shop and office, gaining much business experience from their mom.

Later Tina decided to go into semi-retirement and it was at this time that Toni wanted her mom to assist with Rietvlei Zoo Farm due to Tina’s vast experience in the construction industry. Toni put in the tender proposal for Rietvlei Zoo Farm in 2003, and they were delighted when it was awarded.

“Rietvlei Zoo Farm has grown so much and it was our vision and dream to make the farm a place where the community could come and enjoy the outdoors.” says Toni. “Two years ago, my mom became sick with lung complications and my brother and I carried on the running of the farm. Visiting the farm, the community will notice lots of rose bushes in the gardens, my mom’s favourite flower; she loved gardening.”

Tina will be remembered by many and leaves behind her loving husband Bennie, her son Benny Jr, daughter-in-law Samantha and their three children, Jordan, Matthew and Shaye, as well as her daughter Toni Mackrell, son-in-law Shawn and their three children, Jenna, Jayden and Kaldin. She will be missed by her family, friends and staff.

Tina Booysen’s memorial service will be held at Rietvlei Zoo Farm, Butterfly Hall, on Saturday, January 16, at 14:00. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St Mary’s Children’s Home, Standard Bank – The Glen (006005), Account number: 002860503.