Death saddens fishing forum

THE Eastern Cape Divers and Fishers Forum (ECDFF) members are in mourning for the death of their member comrade, Gerry Hendricks. He left us during a trying time. We are trying to transform the fishing industry by engaging the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to grant the divers and fishermen of the Nelson Mandela metro the permits so that they can have their own companies.

Hendricks was also a founder member of the Eastern Cape Black Fishers Association (ECBFA) and he was very instrumental in consolidating the fishers from the townships and the northern areas that resulted in the formation of a very strong, resilient front that made the Daff listen to fishers.

During that time the fishers were not being taken seriously by the Daff, but today I’m very proud to say we are having meetings with both the ministers and their directorates through his efforts and contribution to the struggle of fishers in the metro.

He will be greatly missed for his strong administrative and negotiating skills.

He was such a wonderful person to work with because we did the administration together and he was also very strategic at doing things.

I’m sure every member of the forum would agree with me that he leaves a big hole in the forum because he was very useful, not a problematic and a chaotic person.

I will remember him for his humbleness and honesty.

At the time of his death we were serving together in the committee of the ECDFF.

To his family, I say let him go and rest because we all saw him suffering.

He was in and out of hospital, and he suffered enough pain.

May his soul rest in peace.

Mzwandile aka Pepe Nkomombini, ECDFF committee member