TZANEEN: Throwback Thursday – Danie Joubert

Daniel Johannes Malan Joubert “Danie” was an attorney and was one of the founding fathers of Joubert and May attorneys in 1929 alongside the late Captain Frank May.

Frank Barry May was later killed in 1942 during WWII and his successors in the firm were the likes of Eric Oescher, Frik van der Vyver and Amie Theron (among others), however until today, the name of the firm remains Joubert and May.

Danie Joubert constructed the exquisite Joubert House for his wife, Maria in 1927.

Joubert House was the first ever home in Tzaneen to have had a swimming pool.

Also read: Throwback Thursday: First lawyer in town

Joubert’s life ended prematurely when during a fishing trip in Mozambique on 9 July 1959, the boat that he and three others were in capsized.

Two members of the party survived the ordeal, Pat Albertyn and Hennie Schoeman.

Sadly Danie Joubert could not swim and despite the best efforts of Albertyn and Schoeman trying to hold him above water, he sadly drowned.
Jack Duffus also passed away during the ordeal.
The Tzaneen community’s affinity and love of this legendary man, Danie Joubert, was evident at their joint funeral on 17 July 1959, when the NG Church Tzaneen was so full, mourners crammed into the church and even sat on the floor and on the church steps outside to pay their last respect, making it one of the biggest funerals ever held in Tzaneen.

Joubert was renowned as a brilliant criminal law and water rights attorney, and elected town mayor twice, from 1936 to 1940 and again from 1949 to 1950.

Danie Joubert had a lasting impact on this beautiful town, a man loved and respected by many, it is no wonder then, than in honour of this legend, the main street of Tzaneen was renamed from Yamorna Street, to Danie Joubert Street.

An obituary was published in the Impala newspaper dated 17 July 1959 and the respect and admiration that those around him had for Joubert is evident in the words,

“For he was one of those who consistently gave more than he received.

Ever ready with his counsel, ever willing and eager to help, he was a mighty haven of strength to all of those with whom he came into contact.

He lived his life in the service of others and how often did he not succeed in seeking out and finding the opportunity to help his fellow me.

Fearless in debate but always constructive in criticism, he was the main driving force of any council of which he was a member and the architect of of much of the rapid development that has taken place in the village [Tzaneen] over the last decade.

To Danie there was either right or wrong. There were no shades of right and wrong.

He did, without fear of the consequences, what he believed was right. He rejected without question and without regret that which was wrong.”