Sports DG to be buried next Monday

Monday, February 28, 2011

Pretoria - The late Director-General of the Sport and Recreation Department, Vernie Petersen (52), will be laid to rest on Monday, 7 March, in Cape Town.

Sports Ministry spokesperson, Paena Galane said the service will start at 4:30pm at the Cathedral Church.

A memorial service will be held at the Cathedral Church in Pretoria on Thursday.

Petersen, who was admitted on 16 February at the Zuid-Afrikaanse Hospital, died on Sunday. According to Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula, Petersen had been at the ICU suffering from pneumonia.

"After undergoing operations, we were hopeful that he had survived until we got the shocking news. He was optimistic, courageous, skilful and decisive. He was well-informed and we never had any form of differences as we always worked as a team.

"We were still looking forward to working with him until the untimely death robbed us of this man of integrity and honour," said Mbalula.

Mbalula, his deputy Gert Oosthuizen, accompanied by other department officials, visited the Petersen family to convey their condolences.

"Today, we mourn the untimely passing away of a gallant fighter, who has contributed to the programme to better the lives of South Africans in different spheres. The sport fraternity has lost a leader, servant and brother. He served sport with diligence and dedication. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children and the whole family," said the minister.

On Sunday, thousands of African National Congress (ANC) members paid their respects to the late director-general by observing a moment of silence at the party's local government elections manifesto launch in Rustenburg.

Petersen joined Sport and Recreation in October 2008 after serving as National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services.

He had also worked as chief director at the Department of Social Services, population and development in Mpumalanga, Adviser to the Minister of Social Development and in other civil society organisations.

In addition to his undergraduate studies in Social Work obtained from the University of Western Cape, Petersen also held Honours and Master's Degrees in Social Sciences from the University of Cape Town.

Echoing Mbalula's words, Oosthuizen said: "We've lost a family member, a seasoned cadre in government administration."

The department and family have since established an organising committee to help arrange the memorial service and funeral.

Petersen is survived by his wife and two sons.