As a university community we join the rest of South Africa in mourning the death of Matie alumnus and distinguished academic, theologian and struggle activist Prof Johannes Jacobus Fourie (Jaap) Durand.
Durand, who passed away on 24 January 2022, was a former member of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Council, appointed by the then minister of education to serve in this capacity from 1 October 2001 to 1 April 2004. As a Council member, he played a significant part in the transformation of the University.
“Prof Durand was a brave visionary, academic and theologian who had the courage of his convictions to speak out and take action against South Africa's injustices at a time when very few white people did," said Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor. “It came at a professional cost, but he was on the right side of history and made an invaluable impact in all the communities he served, including at our university. His passing is a loss that will be widely felt."
Prof Durand was well known and respected in theological circles and the academic community both locally and abroad. In a career spanning close to 50 years, he made significant contributions in unifying South Africa, promoting nation-building and speaking out against the injustices of our past.
Throughout his life, he never ceased to advocate for unity, transformation, reconciliation and justice in South Africa, sometimes at great personal cost. Durand's criticism of the apartheid government and the Dutch Reformed Church, for instance, saw the latter rejecting him. During his time as the first vice-rector of the University of the Western Cape, he also publicly showed his commitment to the struggle for democracy in South Africa by marching with his students against apartheid laws.
In 2002, SU awarded an honorary doctorate to Durand for his outstanding contributions and service to the academia, the church and South African society. In the commendation, he was lauded as “a visionary spirit, a person of character and integrity, an influential figure in the search for justice, reconciliation and peace in our society" – someone who “not only produced high-quality academic works, but also endeavoured to share and implement his knowledge and convictions in the church and society".
*The memorial service for Prof Durand will take place on Saturday 29 January at 10:00 in the Rhenish Church on the Braak, Stellenbosch. After the service, refreshments will be served at SU's Faculty of Theology in Dorp Street.
Image credit: Le Roux Schoeman / www.kerkbode.co.za
