Last mayor of Kingsburgh dies
She was a councillor on the Kingsburgh Council for many years and was Kingsburgh’s last mayor.
ERSTWHILE Kingsburgh Mayor, Veronica Robinson (85) died on Thursday, 28 July.
Rona, as she was known to her many friends, was born in Johannesburg in 1931.
She was a councillor on the Kingsburgh Council for many years and was Kingsburgh’s last mayor.
Her late husband Doug Robinson was the town planner on council.
On council she served with ex-mayor Jeff van Belkum. “It was so sad to hear of the death of Rona and our condolences go out to the family,” he said.
“I served with Rona on the Kingsburgh Council for a number of years and remember her as a councillor who was totally committed to the residents of the town. Hers was a simple philosophy: “People first”, she would say. Her valuable work with welfare and service organisations in Toti and further afield bear testimony.
She was a skilful debater, a forthright participant in council matters, but always with a view to seeking consensus and calming troubled waters. Rona Robinson was a gracious lady who carried the office of mayor with dignity and diplomacy. May she rest in peace.”
Always civic-minded, she identified a suitable site for the building of Siyabonga Secondary School in Lovu C section before 1994.
A little known fact was she never used her council remuneration and it was held by the mayoral secretary for charity funding. This income funded any charity ranging from feeding the hungry to purchasing soccer boots for a promising young sportsman who could not afford sports gear.
Rona was also a familiar face at Jabulani Home of the Aged where she served on the committee for many years. She was involved in welfare matters in the local community for more than a quarter of a century.
“I was very fond of Rona. Our friendship was over recent years since my involvement with Jabulani,” said Beth Duncan.
“She was the last mayor of Kingsburgh and she always reminded folk of that. She was not the mayoress.
Rona was very involved with Jabulani, firstly from her days on council and then on the committee as vice-chairman and chairman.
She was really committed to her duties at Jabulani and very generous. Rona loved all the fun times and she was instrumental in starting our annual Spring Fling a few years ago.
Jabulani is a sadder place without her.”
Rona is survived by her son Kenny, grandchildren Steven, Byron, Nicky, Bianca and Lauren and great grandchildren Kyle and Caitlin.
