Wiechers a brilliant scholar
Prof Marinus Wiechers [who died on August 31] was a most exceptional person in every respect.
He was an academic, scholar, teacher and mentor for countless students for nearly 40 years.
As a contemporary of mine and many others we can echo the words of John Donne, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind and therefore send not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”.
He was par excellence involved in the affairs of mankind.
Wiechers was a brilliant scholar and academic of international standing.
He was also the vice-chancellor of Unisa in the 1990s at a challenging time of transition and transformation.
He was a prolific writer and author in the fields of international, constitutional and administrative law as well as human rights.
He was also a linguist, having a knowledge of French, German and Spanish.
He travelled widely, and his advice in relation to constitutional law, human rights and administrative law was eagerly sought by academics, politicians and statesmen.
As a young advocate of the supreme court of SA he ap peared before the World Court at The Hague in relation to the famous SWA/Namibia cases concerning the mandate drafted by the League of Nations after World War 1.
He also served on innumerable commissions.
He did pioneering research and writing in the field of administrative law and his book on administrative was an innovative contribution to this subject in SA.
He was involved in the drafting of the Namibian and the SA constitutions.
As such he was a patriotic South African, deeply committed to the new constitutional and political dispensation that this country embarked on with the political settlement of 1993 and the interim constitution of 1994.
He well understood the immense problems the country faced as a fledgling democracy endeavoured in a constructive way to make a contribution to resolving these.
His understanding of these problems was nuanced, and he was committed to the realisation of social and economic justice for all South Africans.
He was also an artist of note and his paintings were greatly prized.
He held a number of successful exhibitions and was vice-president of the Arts Association of Pretoria.
Indeed he was a man for all seasons, a renaissance prince of a man, greatly beloved by family, colleagues and friends.
His passing has impoverished all who knew him.
Despite his inordinate talents he remained a modest and humble person, always willing to assist friends and colleagues.
Prof George Devenish
Durban