Saying farewell to one of the biggest fighters against poverty
Peter passed away at the age of 73, and left behind his wife Ann, six children, and 14 grandchildren.
Founder and Chief Executive of Joint Aid Management (Jam) International, Peter Pretorius has passed away, and we now seek to remember the legacy he leaves behind.
He began his career with his father in the family construction company, gaining invaluable knowledge in the business and expanding his expertise in different trades. Peter’s involvement in Christian outreach crusades, over 584 of them in three African countries where 12 million souls were saved, steered him to becoming involved in humanitarian aid work. This in turn led him to a fateful experience in 1984, when he was left stranded at a relief and food distribution centre for 10 days with no food and very little water.
Being exposed to extreme hunger, poverty and death at a place that was supposed to provide relief, Peter and his wife Ann dedicated their lives to alleviating the suffering of Africa’s impoverished communities. Thus, Joint Aid Management (Jam) International was born.
The Jam nutritional school feeding programme currently supplies 1,2 million children with a nutritious meal every school day, and operates in five African Countries (South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Rwanda, South Sudan) and is soon to begin operations in Sierra Leone. Jam also has seven affiliate offices globally, in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Germany.
The world has lost a legend and the poverty-stricken in Africa have lost one of their greatest champions. “We at Jam have lost our leader; Ann has lost her partner and husband, the Pretorius family have lost their father and Oupa,” said Liesl de Wet, of Jam.
Author Isabel Allende once wrote: “There is no death … people die only when we forget them. If you can remember me, I will be with you always.”
“In heaven a true hero has been welcomed. On earth, his legacy continues,” Liesl concluded.
Peter passed away at the age of 73, and left behind his wife Ann, six children, and 14 grandchildren. Peter was remembered at a celebration of his life Rhema Bible Church North on Saturday, 18 August.
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