Swellendam Mayor Francois du Rand struggled to hold back tears as he read a tribute at the memorial service of his close friend Johan van den Berg. His words offered a deeply personal glimpse into the impact Van den Berg (43), who died of a heart attack on November 8, had on his life and on the wider community.
Here is Du Rand’s tribute:
We gather today with heavy hearts because someone we cared for
deeply is no longer with us.
And while I stand here as the Executive Mayor, I stand here first as a
friend, to honour Johan for the man he truly was.
Johan was never the man who pushed his way to the front.
He didn’t chase applause or attention.
He was the quiet one, steady, dependable, a rock for the people around
him.
A pillar in the truest sense of the word.
He lived his life with a rare kind of integrity.
In a world full of noise, Johan chose substance.
In a world full of pretence, he chose honesty.
In a world where many talk about principles, Johan simply lived them.
He stood up for ordinary people, the ones without influence, without
wealth, without a voice.
Those who were overlooked found in Johan someone who saw them,
respected them, and fought for them.
When decisions were made behind closed doors, Johan was the one
who asked:
“Is this right?”
“Is this fair?”
“What about the people who can’t speak for themselves?”
He dared to stand firm, even at a personal cost.
He did not choose the easy path; he chose the right one, again and
again.
And yes, Johan was human, a man of humility and grace.
He wasn’t perfect, and he never pretended to be.
He knew his flaws, he acknowledged them, and he still showed up with
integrity and conviction every time.
That humility, that honesty ….. it made him who he was.
When pressure mounted, when agendas clashed, when others kept
quiet, Johan stood tall.
His backbone was not for sale.
His principles were not negotiable.
His courage was quiet but unmistakable, a beacon of strength for us all.
To his family:
No tribute can fill the empty space he has left behind.
The silence at home, the familiar voice that will not be heard again, that
is where the real grief sits.
But I want you to know this:
Johan was deeply respected.
He made a difference.
He left a legacy that will outlive all of us.
Luzaan, thank you for sharing Johan with all of us.
You were his partner, his anchor, his safe place.
He loved you deeply, and everyone who knew him knew that.
Kairi, Mindi and KC, your father was proud of you.
He carried you in his heart wherever he went.
Remember him not only for the battles he fought, but for the heart with
which he fought them.
Julle pa was en sal altyd lief wees vir julle!!!
Always remember that he loved you and will always love you!
Swellendam has lost a pillar, one of its quiet, steady foundations.
And every person who knew him has lost someone they could trust
without hesitation.
If we carry one lesson from Johan’s life, let it be this:
True courage is not loud.
It does not seek recognition.
It lives in the quiet, difficult choices, in choosing justice over comfort,
truth over convenience, compassion over indifference.
Thank you, Johan, for the profound impact you had on our lives.
Thank you for your honesty.
Thank you for your courage.
Thank you for the way you treated people.
Thank you for the footprint you have left in this community… and in our
hearts.
May God comfort your family.
May you rest in peace, Johan.
Rest in peace… IRONMAN.
“T.N.T.” is AC/DC’s anthem of raw confidence and self-assertion. The
song captures the spirit of someone who knows exactly who they are,
refuses to be intimidated, and won’t let anyone push them around. It’s
bold, explosive, and unapologetic — a reminder that sometimes you
have to stand your ground with full force and let the world know you
won’t be walked over.”
