JERRY Theys from Reuven Old Age Home is not an ordinary 80-year-old, folks; he has just been honoured with a Masters in Metaphysical Science degree at the University of Metaphysics in California.
He is on his way to earn a doctorate and there is only one word to describe this achievement – wow! His intention is to motivate people, especially in the South and surrounding areas, about health, happiness, success, inner peace, wealth and prosperity. “I want people to discover the unlimited power and potential that lies untapped within them – also to learn how to awaken this infinite power and become the person you’ve always wanted to be,” he said.
This octogenarian is also a well-versed reporter and a photojournalist, having worked for Beeld newspaper and having started his own community newspaper, The Beam, in the ‘70s. “I am always passionate about people – that is why I was always involved with the community-based organisations. The one that comes to mind is Thembani Home Based Care. There we attended to the needs of the sick, poor, unemployed and the homeless,” explained Jerry.
As a photojournalist, part of his job was to take pictures of well-known people, including politicians. He has rubbed shoulders with the likes of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Chris Hani, Ahmed Kathrada, Jesse Jackson, Tokyo Sexwale and the list goes on. (Of course Jerry has photographs to support these claims.)
“I can never forget the humbleness these giants possessed. They were into the people, easy to talk to and understood the dynamics of the country and what people wanted. While I was covering Oliver Tambo’s 70th birthday in Benoni, he called me and said he always saw me taking photographs and he wished that one day I would visit him in his house. That was humbling for me,” remembered Jerry.
These days, Jerry still writes stories about people in the old age home, and serves on a committee that takes care of the elderly at the home.
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