Beyers Naude

Oom Bey*, as affectionately called, true cleric of God,in quest of His Will, Sharpville* brought “A new crises of Faith” and an emotional farewell at Aasvoelkop*, Admirably though, your indomitable spirit defied the great evil of apartheid Oh! how you suffered in this land whose birds sang your lullabies ... where you first felt the sun, as boy but who also gave you Tannie Ilse* an angel and a pillar to say but the least. Yet as your summers ticked over and your children matured in pain with their own battles and sacrifices a family outcast to White Afrikaners despised, ostracized, shunned, excluded like the leapers of "The Great Book", harassed by the apartheid government, security police raiding your home, taking away your privacy,... Banned Yet the wheel turned as it should Hailed now as hero, an Afrikaner prophet, “shining beacon to all South Africans”* with your undying love in Christ a man of peace who choose ideals, as bitterness never consumed you, never touched, never tempted you through your sacrifice and those like you your gift and ours, a New South Africa I say respectfully Hamba Kahle* Oom Bey In memory of Dr Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naude (10 May 1915 – 7 September 2004) Some explanations for our overseas poets and friends. * Oom Bey – an Afrikaans equivalent for Uncle Bey, both affection and respect; * Sharpville - The Sharpeville Massacre in 1960 saw 69 young Blacks killed by apartheid police when they peacefully protested against the pass laws which restricted their freedom of movement; * Aasvoelkop Dutch Reformed Church – The Church where Dr Naude’s funeral service was held, was also the church which saw him preaching his last sermon in White South Africa; * Tannie Ilse – an Afrikaans equivalent of Aunt Ilse, the wife of Oom Bey; * “shining beacon to all South Africans” – The words of Past President Nelson Mandela at the 80 th Birthday of Oom Bey – “His life is a shining beacon to all South Africans both Black and White. It demonstrates what it means to rise above race to be a true South African.”; * Hamba Kahle – A Zulu phrase / words of deep respect, saying go well, when a person is leaving.