Die Joernaal

FREDDY PHILANDER, JONATHAN SAM AND BERNHARDT !GAEB

It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we have decided to put pen to paper about the sudden passing of a man who had left so many footprints in our individual and collective development, as we were counted among the first crop of black professional journalists ever produced in this country.

We are trying to make sense out of the death of Des Erasmus, the king of Afrikaans journalism.

We first met Des Erasmus in the late seventies when a decision was taken by the then Die Suidwes Drukkery that Des Erasmus would become editor of the popular Joernaal newspaper in Windhoek. Des Erasmus had two distinct functions to perform. He was expected to boost the distribution figures of the newspaper which was predominantly appealing to the black masses. Secondly he was tasked to train the inexperienced journalists to a point where they could become professional newspapermen. Des Erasmus passed those two assignments with flying colours.

Des Erasmus was undoubtedly the leading journalists of Afrikaans reporting with no equal in Namibia and beyond. He was an excellent storyteller and an exceptional disciplinarian in the newsroom.

We remember the times just before deadlines that we would be asked to rewrite a story several times, until Des was satisfied. Only then would a story go into the newspaper. Des had an unspeakable calmness during pressure and deadlines, he would never miss them.

He was the editor, political correspondent and at the same time subeditor of the publication. He executed those responsibilities with great care and passion.

When the sales of Joernaal was at its peak and the paper became a household name, Des was suddenly and unceremoniously instructed to close down the paper for no apparent reason. Des Erasmus was devastated. He was a hurting and extremely disappointed man. He was asked to part with a product that he had so diligently and passionately published.

But finally, as was his way of looking positively at things, Des Erasmus had accepted the fact that the time has come to pick up the pieces and to move on as best as he could.

Des negotiated with the management of Die Republikein newspaper so that all the journalists from Joernaal would join him on the editorial staff of the Republikein. That was how we knew this giant of the Afrikaans journalism. Always thinking about his subordinates.

Now, after more than six decades as a journalist, storyteller and writer of stature, Des Erasmus' illustrious career has come to an end. Never will Namibians read the well-structured reports about fishermen from the coast again.

Yes, it is incredibly sad. But Des Erasmus had done his part. He has gone to rest. Go well and rest in peace.

Des, you were a good man!