Heideveld Primary renames school hall

Heideveld Primary School has renamed its hall the Abraham Visagie Hall, in honour of the late staff member.

Mr Visagie, described as an all-rounder at the school, died of a stroke last year on his way to work. On Friday December 2, his family unveiled a plaque bearing his name at the hall.

Principal Rushdie Desai, said they had all felt the loss of a great man who had shown loyalty and commitment to the school.

“Abraham Visagie left a legacy here at Heideveld Primary School. He lived up to the first value of the school - commitment, which he showed throughout his journey at the school.

“He had pride in the work he did and excelled in whatever he did and the same ethics rubbed off on his colleagues. Children in years to come will ask who he is and what he meant to the school, the legacy must live on.”

He said Mr Visagie often stayed after hours to check the school was clean and safe. He was described as a man with a great love for his church, his parents and his family.

“It is a sad but joyous day. We sit back and reminisce about the beautiful person he was. It’s been a year since he's gone, and we still speak of him on a daily basis. Hundreds of people came to his funeral; the church was too small. It shows his character as a person,” said Mr Desai.

One of the support staff, Freda Van Willing, said that she was thankful for the time she had had with him.

“His family was so important to him. He loved praying for his family and for people. He loved the children at the school. He is in heaven with God and that is a place that we all aspire to go to. He was a very good person and taught me so much. He told me many things including that he loved his parents so much,” she said.

His mother, Maria Visagie, said she was very heartsore at the loss of her son but was proud of him for leaving such a wonderful legacy behind.

“He was a good person, one of my best children... He was the third eldest of six children and this year he would've been 50. Renaming the hall to his name means a lot to us. We feel so proud,” she said.

His father, Petrus Visagie, said that he wanted to thank the school for treating his son as their own and for everything they had done for them.

“He was so well known. I want to thank everyone for this. He has a family at the school. I hope that the children will strive for the legacy he left. People come and go, children are born, they then turn into adults then grow old and then they are gone. It is a huge honour to have the hall renamed for him,” he said.