PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Politicians across the Garden Route paid tribute to Bitou and Garden Route District councillor Nomhiki Jacob who died on 18 March following a long illness.

In her home town of Plettenberg Bay, her colleagues held a small "sombre" special council meeting in her honour on Monday 23 March.

Jacob was an ANC PR councillor at Bitou Municipality and also served the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) as a member of the strategic services committee since 2016.

Despite their political party differences, politicians from across the region described Jacob as a humble, hardworking and passionate person who served her community well.

Bitou mayor Peter Lobese described her as a "strong, uncompromising, passionate and humble servant of the people of Kwanokuthula and the entire Bitou".

DA councillor Bill Nel said Jacob would be fondly remembered for being "humble, friendly and committed". "She made an immense contribution to the functioning of council", Nel said.

ANC councillor Mphakamisi Mbali said Jacobs left a lasting legacy for her role within ANC structures. "She will always be remembered as a selfless leader that was willing to sacrifice her life to achieve freedom, equality and a better life for the poorest of the poor. She carried this vision in council and always put the empowerment of the women and the youth high on council's agenda," Mbali said.

Jacob's colleagues within the GRDM had similar sentiments. Speaker Barnie Groenewald said he would remember her as the "sweetest, kindest and warm person". He further described her as a "disciplined councillor who always presented herself in a professional and neat manner – always stylishly dressed".

"It was indeed a pleasure to work with her and to be in the presence of such a humble human being. I remember her as team player who always did her part to ensure that the work got done," said councillor Virgill Gericke from the Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners.

Councillor Teresa Fortuin from the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa expressed her sincere sadness for the loss of her "neighbour". "Her place was next to me in council. I never heard her complain about anything. Only in the last few months I could see she was unwell to a point when she told me that she was not well.

Through all these years up until the last few months she gave her all and worked hard to serve the community she loved so dearly."

GRDM mayor Memory Booysen specifically remembers her love for the communities she served, especially Kwanokuthula. 

"I knew Jacob long before we became public representatives. We were together in community politics and she took me as a brother during that period. We would frequently discuss community issues at her house. When we both started to serve as councillors we still maintained a good working relationship," Booysen said. 

"Jacob's passing is a great loss to her family, as well as to GRDM, Bitou and the community of Kwanokuthula which she passionately served."

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