Memorial Service notice

The Wheeler family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the enormous outpouring of heartfelt messages and support that we have receive in this time of grief.

Tom touched so many lives, and we are extremely grateful to have had him in ours. He will be dearly missed by many.

There will be a memorial service tomorrow (Thursday 25 May) 14h00 at St. Columba’s Presbyterian Church, 45 Lurgan Road, Parkview, Johannesburg.

In lieu of flowers, we would love for donations to be made to the Rotary Foundation in Tom’s honour. Please put “For Tom” in the payment reference line and “Peace Fellowship” as the designation of contribution.

Back transfer:

HSBC Bank PLC – Johannesburg Branch

2 Exchange Square, 85 Maude Street, Sandown, Sandton 2196, South Africa (necessary for overseas payments)

Beneficiary Name: Rotary Foundation

Account Number: 121007504001.  Or: 21007504001 (If alternative 11-digit code must be used)

Branch Code: 587000

SWIFT (BIC) Code: HSBCZAJJ

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

Payment Reference:

Donor Name: For Tom 

Designation of contribution: Peace Fellowship

Flag ceremony at the United Nations offices in New York

                                      

Congratulations! Mr Reggie Khumala, PAC Representative at the UN shakes hands with SA Ambassador Jim Steward. On the right is Kingsley Makhubeia, Deputy Permanent Representative of the ANC at the UN.

                                   

The new South African flag is raised on 27 April 1994.

Allen Shardelow, New York 

 Meintjeskop Courier, Volume EE, 1994

Recent events at the United Nations have indeed been historic from South Africa's perspective. The old "apartheid" South African flag was lowered for the last time at the United Nations on Tuesday. 26 April 1994. On Wednesday, 27 April 1994, the new flag was raised in the presence of South Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jim Steward, Mr Reggie Khumalo (PAC Chief Representative to the UN), and Mr Kingsley Makhubela (ANC Deputy Chief Representative to the UN). 

The event was marked by much brotherly hugging and back-slapping. Those colleagues who have served at the UN in the past, and certainly those currently stationed in New York, must surely have wondered at how the UN environment had changed. Erstwhile enemies were now standing arm in arm witnessing the birth of the new South Africa on the very ground of the Organisation that had once declared "Apartheid a crime against humanity".

Their task completed, the lights are out and the shutters drawn at the ANC and PAC Observer Missions to the United Nations. The former Chief Representative of the ANC to the UN, Mr Tebogo Mafole, returned to his former stamping grounds on 25 and 26 May 1994, as part of Deputy President Mbeki's delegation to attend the Security Council meeting ,which lifted the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa. 

At that meeting, the delegation sitting behind South Africa's name-plate in the Security Council comprised Deputy-President Mbeki, Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad, the Director-General Mr LH Evans, Mr T Mafole and Ambassador Jim Steward.

.

The final step in our reintegration into the UN took place on 23 June 1994 when South Africa's delegation to the United Nations, led by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, took South Africa's seat in the General Assembly to warm applause from the delegates of 184 nations. Mr Mafole was again present. He just cannot seem to stay away.

The task ahead for the Permanent Mission at the UN is an enormous one. We have taken our place in the various regional groups (NAM. Africa Group and the Group of 77), and now have to ensure that our views on a plethora of international issues are heard.

Everybody at the United Nations is an observer. Image and association are all important. News of who was seen in whose company is furtively exchanged in the corridors while the subject of their conversation is speculated on. South Africa's diplomats will not escape this scrutiny. Much will no doubt be said and speculated on as we go about our task of being an African country while attempting to maintain our bridge to the Western World.

Interesting and challenging times certainly lie in ambush.

With greetings from a hot and humid New York.

Transit in Cairo

Ant Greenham, Amman

Meintjeskop Courier Volume, 1994

I was on my way from Amman to Nairobi for the Heads of Mission meeting and had.to pass through Cairo airport in the process.

Having identified the transit area, which was a little distance from where the bus dropped off the disembarking passengers, I joined the queue which had formed in front of a kind of mini passport control point which was next to a large hall filled with orange plastic chairs. I remember thinking that it could be quite interesting if the place was full of people, which at that stage it was not.

At the control point, I was relieved of my air ticket and diplomatic passport and told (in English) to sit down. I chose a place as close as possible to the Egyptian officials and proceeded to watch developments. It was immediately apparent that my guarantee of an onward journey together with my means of identification was to leave the area together with those of the other passengers. In fact officials kept coming and going with piles and piles of passports, some with air tickets, some without. Some even had boarding cards which indicated an imminent reunification with the owners, although it soon became clear that the order in which one's passport and ticket was surrendered bore no resemblance to the order of return.

Before long, we were joined by a large number of passengers from Nigeria who were on their way to Mecca. Some argued with the officials, but in vain. Everyone was dispatched into the large hall with the orange plastic chairs. Some sat, unperturbed. Others milled around. Most wore slip-slops, some with socks, although one little girl with a running nose was barefoot. There were many long, West African robes and on heads, apart from a cap with the words "I'm a Muslim" (in Arabic) embroidered on it, were a large number of white bags from the company "Sacs and Motors" in Kano with the assurance "Nobody bags it better".

The loudspeaker informed us (in very clear Arabic, English and French) that the flight for Jeddah was to depart. This led to some consternation among the document-bereft Mecca-bound pilgrims, many of whom stood up and did their best to fill the small space between me and the officials. This didn't help, however,and after 30 minutes many tired and sat down right there, on the floor. In time they were given their documents, one by one, and to the best of my knowledge successfully made the Hajj.

Others were less fortunate. I was seated next to a Thai who had been separated from his group. They 'had all departed for the hotel as they were only to leave for Bangkok the next day. He, however, was stuck in transit and no amount of inquiry had changed his circumstances after 2and a half hours. Another man in the hall was confronted by an official (who was backed up by four others who accompanied him to the recipient of the confrontation), but I was not able, determine the final outcome of the interchange. Some individuals managed to leave the hall, apparently on an errand to take control of the situation (and their documents), but they inevitably returned and resumed their wait.          .

Forty minutes before my flight left, which was a good three hours after I entered the hall (and on the wrong side of midnight) I was much relieved to see a familiar-looking passport, together with my air ticket and boarding pass in the hand of an official and I was able to proceed on my journey.

I really have nothing to complain about. Within their system, the officials were polite and helpful and if one doesn't mind having a perfect stranger in a foreign place take your essential documents and disappear, it's probably not a bad idea to relax and enjoy the service. 

Een nag op die trein na Lapland

Kosie Venter

Meintjeskop-Koerier Mei 1992 

Dis September 1987. Die plek, Hesinki en die tyd sesuur die aand.  Sieta en ek het sopas ons karretjie op die trein gelaai en was besig om ons tuis te maak in 'n netjiese engerieflike kompartement. Ons het lankal uitgesien na hierdie reis na Lapland en daarvandaan na Noorwee om te gaan kyk hoe lyk Noordkaap die mees noordelike punt in die wereld waar mens met 'n motor kan kom.

Die trein begin beweeg, en soos goeie Suid-Afrikaners gewoond is om te maak, kom die whiskybottel te voorskyn vir daardie sundowner (terwyl die son hierdie tyd van die jaar nie eintlik opkom of ndergaan niel).  Netnou sal ons die restaurant opsoek, 'n heerlike Finse vismaal geniet en dan lekker vroeg in die kooi klim vir die nagreis na Kolari in die noorde. More vat ons dan die pad deur Lapland na Noord- kaap. 

Daar is seker van ons kollegas wat Fins aanqelee r het, maar ons twee, wat tog meer as twee tale magtig is, het tou opgegooi na enkele maande se probeer. Tel kon ons darem want in winkels was dit nodig om min of meer te weet hoeveel 'n ding kos. Een twee drie vier Uksi kaksi, kolme nalja en so aan. 

Die woord vir twee wat in Afrikaans nie baie mooi op die oor val nie, hoor jy in byna elke sin, want dis twee, dubbel, twintig, tweehonderd en so aan. Nou probeer ek die kennisgewings agter die deur ontsyfer om te sien waar die restaurant is, maar dis nog Griekser as Homerus se Odyssee. 

Die gangetjie is ook maar soos alle ander nou en harde wande wat jou elmboe werlt as die trein so skommel. Gelukkig is die 1aaste deur agter gesluit anders kan 'n man jou mos misgis en ingedagte uitstap op die groen Finse landskapl Reg geraai geen restaurant nie. Ek kom 'n man met 'n uniform en ' n keps tee met so 'n lys en 'n pot- lood. Moet die kondukteur wees. 

Hy praat nie Engels, Duits of Afrikaans nie. Hy verstaan darem die woord restaurant, maar uit sy stortvloed van woorde lei ek 'n ontkennende toontjie af. Miskien, dag ek in my slimheid, word die wa later aangehaak. Finne hou daarvan om laat te eet. 

Jongmense in Finland is oor die algemeen Engels magtig, en intelligente ou wat ek is, soek ek nou so iemand wat my dalk kan inlig. Ja, daar kom sy. Mooi en blond.  Nee, se sy, hier is nie 'n restaurant nie. Volgens haar is dit glo te gevaarlik want die Finne ken nie hulle maat met die Koskenkorva (vodka) of wyn nie, en as hulle more-oggend die pad vat kan dit foeter. 

Mense bring maar hulle eie kosmandjie saam wat in elk geval die nodige bottel medisyne bevat. In die kompartement is daar darem 'n karaf water wat die whisky moet verdun. Sieta het ook in ons nagtassie 'n paar beskuitjies en 'n stukkie kaas ontdek. Soos die Skrif se"'n droe bête met rus daarby" dit was ons aandete in plaas van daardie heerlike salm met al die "goodies" wat daarby hoort.  

Volgende oggend is die keel maar  droog en die tong lelik aangetas gaan van die kaas of, miskien die water uit die karaf wat toe al op is. Ek is weer soek na water – ons treine en al die ander wat ek ke het so ‘n groot fles in die hoek vandie gang waar drinkwater gehou word.Nee,niks! Die vrou van my keer ‘n man voor wat met sy karaf water bedel by elke kompartement. 

HY sal in die hemel kom, want hy skink vir ons so ‘n halwe glasie.  Moes seker aan dieselfde kwaal as ons  het begrip het, en het begrip vir die probleem gehad.  

Halfelf by Kolari aangekom, moet ons half spring om van die trein af te kom, want daar is nie 'n platform nie, lyk nes die saaidings in die ou dae in Wes-Transvaal. Dit sif so effens en dis koud.  Die wagkamer is interessant: 'n groot Lapse tent met 'n vuur in die middel en bankies teen die kante. 

Eindelik op pad. Maar nou is die vind van 'n eetplek dringend noodsaaklik. Hier is 'n plek wat soos ‘n keffie lyk. 'n Vriendelike gesette moederlike tipe agter die toonbank. Die uiteinde van die taalprobleem was dat ons aldrie in die kombuis gestaan en eiers bak het en in die proses die name vir die verskillende produkte probeer leer het. 

Hierdie tyd van die jaar is Lapland pragtig met sy roesbruin blare wat soos 'n goue blinkende see lyk. Kort-kort moet jy stilhou sodat troppe takbokke, soos beeste of skape, oor die pad kan stap. Die parmantige leierbul vooraan met sy pragtige horings fier in die lug. 

Hier en daar is daar besienswaardighede langs die pad. Op een plek in die bos is 'n groot uitgeholde klip waarin volgens oorlewering, 'n man een nag saam met I n beer teen die koue geskuil het. Hier in die woud kom jy diep onder die indruk van die oorweldigende stilte van Lapland. Jy kan die stilte hoor. Geen geluid, nie eers van 'n voel nie. 

Op die Noordpoolsirkel (Napapiiri) is daar 'n groot toeriste-aantreklikheid. 'n Bord met verskillende tale vertel jou dis die poolsirkel en in die winkeltj ies kan jy van alles en nog wat koop - takbokhorings en velIe, fleurige Laphooftooisels en massas kitsch. In 'n kampie loop rendiere, en die grootste een heet Rudolf. Dan besef jy dis Kersvader se blyplek. En gou merk jy die vriendelike dik ou man op waar hy praatj ies met veral kinders maak.  Sy groet bestaan uit drie geluide "Hoi-ho-ho! " Ja, hy bestaan werklik, hy woon op die Noordpoolsirkel en hulle se hy vlieg regtig met sy slee en takbokke deur die lug!

Revival of Ancient Games in Greece

Nemes Games 2016

Meintjeskop Ditaba No 4/2000

Apparently, Ambassadors’ tasks include not only the normal. highly official things we earthlings expect of them, but they also have to run marathons, and even barefoot! In this year's Games Ambassador Jacobs took part as one of the judges and runners!      .

The discovery in the seventies of an ancient stadium in Nemea, in Southern Greece, by Professor Stephen Miller, an American archaeologist, led to the revival of the ancient games in Nemea. A Greek-South African, Konstantinos Peppas, was the driving force behind the revival of the Modern Nemead Games. Less than a month after the first modern Nemead in 1996, Peppas, who was the Mayor of Nemea at the time, tragically died in an accident.

The Greek Minister of Culture, Mr T Pangalos, was among the dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony of this year's modern Nemead ("Nemea 2000") which took place on 3 and 4 June. Hundreds of spectators and athletes from more than 40 countries participated in the event. Nine Ambassadors (representing Colombia, Denmark, lndia. Morocco, Romania, South Africa (Ambassador Dawie Jacobs), Slovakia, United Kingdom and the United States) participated in the 100-meter event dressed in ancient tunics and of course barefoot! 

The Ambassadors of Canada and South Africa also participated successfully in the 7,5-km marathon in the "Footsteps of Herakles".

Eight Ambassadors also officiated at the colourful closing ceremony: seven as judges dressed in a black himation, a laurel crown, and a switch with which to flog transgressors, while the eighth (the Chilean Ambassador) acted the role of the priestess.

During an unveiling ceremony of a plaque in honour of the late Konstantinos Peppas, the South African Ambassador to Greece, Mr Dawie Jacobs, said: "The life and work of Konstantinos Peppas personified the outstanding qualities of the longstanding and warm relations between South Africa and Greece. He was born in Ancient Nemea, later spent 17 of his best years in South Africa and returned to his native land to plough back in his life's experience to the benefit of his people. 

His story is the story of so many Greeks who have adopted South Africa as their second motherland.

Since the first Greek, Nicolas Vlassopoulos, settled in Cape Town more than 150 years ago, South Africa has become a very popular destination for Greek people. Today the Hellenic Community in South Africa members more than a hundred thousand and they are making a constructive contribution in all spheres of life.

The life and work of Konstantinos  Peppas fills a perfect chapter in the history of South African- Hellenic relations. It reflects the special chemistry between South Africans and Greeks and illustrates how individuals could positively and constructively contribute to the strengthening of ties between countries and nations

His contribution lives on - not only in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, but also through the symbolism of the revived Nemean Games in which he had played such a major role.

May the Plateia Konstantinos Peppas also serve as a symbol of the positive contributions of all Greek South Africans over the years to the improvement of relations between our countries and to friendship among nations in general.