Community mourns death of beloved Mountain Man

Schwartz and his wife, Matilda, have lived in Bela-Bela since 2014. He owned the local motorcycle business Bela-Bela Bikes and Bits.

He served as the Rotary Club President of the Bela-Bela chapter.

According to a statement from his family, Schwartz, his son Daniel and daughter Jeanne went on an excursion with their dirtbikes on the day of his death in the vicinity of the old Warmbad Dam area.

After riding up, around, and down an area known to them, Schwartz stopped to have a rest. He asked for a drink of water and took off his shirt after he experienced shortness of breath and felt excessively hot.

He then requested his daughter to ride his bike back down the hill and to return to fetch him.

He was later found resting motionlessly and not breathing against the rock where he was left, the statement read.

The emergency services were phoned, but Schwartz had passed on. The cause of his death will be determined.

Schwartz was born in Paarl, Western Cape, but moved frequently thereafter with his family. He attended primary schools in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, after which he attended high school in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, matriculating in 1983.

He was gifted in mathematics, history, and geography and had a love for literature and poetry. He later studied accounting at the Rand Afrikaans University (today the University of Johannesburg), but opted for a career in the mining industry in Carletonville, according to his family.

He was drafted into the South African Defence Force, where he served in the navy’s amphibious boat squad unit.

After completing his military service, he obtained a higher national diploma in mining engineering. He later became a mine manager.

To top his academic accolades, he was also a gifted rugby player. He played for Grey College in his junior years, The Anglo American Rugby team, the Randburg Rugby Club, and later the national Botswana team, The Vultures. He remained an honorary member of the Gabarone Rugby Club until his passing. Other sports he enjoyed included squash, skiing, paddle skiing, and sailing.

He and Matilda were married in Johannesburg and had two children. They celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary this year.

In 1992 he went into partnership with a Botswana-based company with family members that still operates today. In 2014 he and his wife moved to Bela-Bela.

Schwartz had an avid love for nature, camping, hiking, and biking and loved evenings watching the sunset over the Waterberg mountains, said his family. He also loved animals.

They further stated that Schwartz was involved in various charitable organizations throughout the years.

He was known for his volunteer work at the Botswana Journey of Hope Cancer Awareness Ride. He also sponsored an aspiring athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.

He marshaled in endurance events, such as the Kalahari Bicycle Challenge, Roof of Africa, Barbers Pan, and the Toyota Desert race. He was part of the Gabarone Motor Club for four years and taught youngsters the art of technical riding.

His family and staff members will remember him as a dedicated father figure, a family man, a humble Christian, and a man who loved the outdoors — especially mountains.

A memorial service was held on Friday 2 December at the Boat Club outside Bela-Bela.

He leaves behind his wife, son, and daughter, along with their spouses, his mother, brother, and sister. He was privileged to meet his first grandson who was born earlier this year.

• The family conveys a word of thanks to Gert and Jolene van der Schyff, who assisted on the scene, volunteers and
  the Bela-Bela SAPS forensic officers.