BELOVED Constantia Gardens resident, Koos ‘Oupa’ van Niekerk, was thrown a farewell braai on Saturday, 25 June. The 84-year-old was among the first tenants to live in the block of flats situated in Malvern, from 1986. “Oupa actually bought a flat in 1985 before the building was complete. He finally moved in the following year and has been here ever since with this year marking his 30th. “He is well known, loved and we will all miss him,” said chairlady of the building, Linda Sammons.
She said Van Niekerk was appointed supervisor of the complex in 1994 and after 22 years of service, he finally retired and will relocate to Nelspruit with his daughter and son in-law.
Tenant, Gonam Govender, said she will miss Van Niekerk’s humility, among other things. “I wish Oupa well and I’d just like to say thank you to him for being the helping hand and friend that he has been. We’ve known him for 18 years, he and my daughter are both diabetic and he’d always ask me about her well being ,” she said.
“I’m grateful to everyone here for the braai. I wasn’t expecting a farewell but I really appreciate it. This is the first time we’ve ever had anything of this sort. I will miss everyone here at the complex,” said Van Niekerk.
