AFTER 43 years of making a major impact in business, sport and community affairs in Richards Bay, it’s time for Louis and Mari van Zyl to pull up their deep roots as they head for retirement in Centurion.
‘This is pure family pressure,’ say the inseparable pair, who have been married for 51 years and have decided to move closer to their grandchildren and children – Johan and Maureen van Zyl and Marita and Colston Veater.
Seldom has any couple made the contribution to society in general and the region specific, as have the popular Van Zyl duo.
They arrived in Richards Bay in 1975 and Louis established the first SA Police Station and Criminal Investigation Department as Commander.
He also performed duties as Public Prosecutor at the Magistrate’s Court in Empangeni.
In 1978 he started a new career at Alusaf as Safety and Health professional and furthered his studies overseas in aluminium technology, qualifying as a Human Resource Practitioner – SA Board of Personnel Practice.
Louis was involved in the Bayside Renewal Process as Head of Business Development.
He was appointed CEO of the Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation and established a multipurpose resource centre, the ZCBF Community Park, travelling extensively overseas for funds for development and community foundations.
A founder member of the uThungulu Community Foundation, he also established the Downstream Aluminium Centre for Technology (DACT) at ZCBF.
Various roles
Louis was largely influential in establishing the Lower Umfolozi Peace Accord and as councillor for the City of uMhlathuze for 16 years, served on Exco and many portfolio committees.
On the business and education front, Louis served as Chairman of Umfolozi FET College and member of the University of Zululand Council.
He was honoured as Zululand HR Practitioner of the Year and Top Achiever of the Year and is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of People Management.
Louis also ploughed his energies into sport as President of the Zululand Tennis Association and was bestowed Honorary Life Membership at the Richards Bay Country Club
Joint effort
Mari also has a distinguished local record, having worked in fuel research before moving to Alusaf as a laboratory analyst.
She furthered her career with Triomf, Indian Ocean Fertilizer and then Foskor as Head of Laboratory Services, Quality Control for 22 years and was the only female member of the Fertilizer Society of South Africa Mari was appointed as first lady President of the Zululand Tennis Association in 1986.
After retirement, Louis and Mari joined the Rotary Club of Richards Bay in 2012. Louis became President in 2016 and Mari the President Ann where they have been busy and involved with many of the community projects in the region.
‘We enjoyed the fellowship and volunteer work tremendously, in the true spirit of ‘Rotary Making a Difference’ and as in all our career and extramural activities, have always worked as a partnership,’ said Louis.
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