Toni Werndle writes:
POSSIBLY one of the best known and popular councillors over the past two decades, Harry Heyns finally decided to hang up his robe and to not stand for election at the last Local Government Elections. Mr Heyns had been a councillor, Deputy Mayor, Mayor and on numerous occasions Exco Member since 1988. A servant of Vryheid for a period of 28 years, yet at the end of his service, the Vryheid Council did not have the decency to even thank him for his dedication, let alone make some sort of gesture of gratitude.
When the government decided to institute Ward Committees to assist the councillors in 2006, Mr Heyns had a committee selected according to the regulations laid out and again after each election when Mr Heyns was elected as councillor for Ward 8. Three members of the original committee, Joseph Buthelezi, Sue Dewar and Toni Werndle remained members of the Ward 8 Committee to the end of Mr Heyns’ tenure. Two other long serving members, Anna Mhlongo and Bunny Cloete were also still on the committee when Mr Heyns retired.
It is indicative of the dedication of Mr Heyns that the Ward 8 Committee was the only committee that sat virtually every month since inception.
On Thursday 8 December 2016, the remaining members of the Ward 8 committee invited Mr and Mrs Heyns to an afternoon tea at the Suikerbekkie Coffee Shop at the Jubileum Tehuis,to take farewell of Mr Heyns and hand over a plaque in gratitude of his service to Vryheid. In return Mr Heyns thanked the members of the committee for their loyalty and mentioned in particular Joseph Buthelezi and Anna Mhlongo for their assistance over the years as well as Bunny Cloete who jumped in as secretary toward the end.
The afternoon was enjoyed by all, with a delicious tea and coffee and eats.
