Leon Dorfling remembered
Leon Dorfling (77), mayor of the then Eden District Council during 2010 and 2011, passed away in the early hours of Monday 22 October.
His children Liaan Dorfling, Nadia Vermaak and Zinzan Dorfling issued the following tribute to their father:
“To a father that will be missed... We as Leon Dorfling’s children have found peace in this time of hardship and loss, knowing that we had a loving father who always had our best intentions at heart. Our father was a man of his own opinion and had compassion for those suffering injustice.
“He believed in the principle of sowing and reaping, knowing that with hard work and determination one can accomplish anything. We, the children, are left with the responsibility to make a success of the blessing that he left us and we will do so founded in righteousness, peace and love.
“We celebrate the good times we shared as a family and we appreciate the love and support from the Eden community. We love our father and will continue doing so.”
Dr Andy Lamont, a friend and colleague who served as an advisor in the office of the executive mayor during Dorfling’s term of office described him as a strict disciplinarian who wasn’t scared to confront practices and policies that he deemed inappropriate. He was a defender of legislation.
Lamont said Dorfling often confided in him and his pet gripe was questioning why it took so long for low-cost housing
Our father was a man of his own opinion and had compassion for those suffering injustice.
for the poor to come on stream.
During the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, Dorfling managed to secure Japan, Denmark and France to set up their practice bases in the Garden Route.
ANC chief whip of the district council, Cllr Piet van der Hoven, said that he served on the Eden District Council mayoral committee during Dorfling’s term as mayor.
“We worked well together for those few months. I wish to send my condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Funeral arrangements were not available at the time of going to print.