KNYSNA NEWS - A Hornlee man who has risen to the rank of commander in the SA Navy has been named as the commanding officer of a new navy ship.

Commander Gurshwin Herwels (38) received the honour from the chief of the navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, at the official commissioning of the ship, the SAS King Shaka Zulu, a multi-mission inshore patrol vessel, at Naval Base Durban last week.

Herwels' twin brother, Commander Greshwin Herwels, who is based at the SA Navy's headquarters in Pretoria and is a hydrographic surveyor in the navy directorate of maritime planning, also attended the event.

Knysna Sea Cadets

The twins, who attended Knysna Secondary School in Hornlee, joined the navy together in 2007. They and their two brothers, Lucien (42) and Fabien (37), received training at the Knysna Sea Cadets as teenagers.

The two attended the same school as the twins and now work as an occupational health inspector in Knysna and principal traffic inspector in Malmesbury, respectively.

'Man of good character'

The brothers were brought up by their mother, Grezelda Herwels (65), a retiree.

"Children are the crown of a mother. I have no doubt that Gurshwin will be successful in his new role. He is a man of good character," she said.

"He has tasted both sides of life. Through it all his favourite quote is, 'Keep the faith, this too shall pass'.

"As a mom, I am grateful to see how his childhood dream became a reality."

Proud moment

Eastern Hennies, the unit training officer at the Knysna Sea Cadets, said Gurshwin's elevation to commanding officer of the ship brought pride to the organisation.

"It's a proud moment for us and a testament to the quality of the training we give teenagers.

"This is inspiration for the cadets we have currently, and it shows the public that the cadets are getting somewhere through being committed to the organisation," Hennies said.

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