OBITUARY: Pieter Johan Van Blommestein (19 November 1958 – 11 January 2017)

(B.J. Koen and S.A. Gray on behalf of the IMATU President, National Executive Council members and all Staff).

It is with a deep sense of devastation and sorrow, that we inform our members of the passing away of our National Finance Manager, Mr Piet van Blommestein, on 11 January 2017, after a bravely fought battle with cancer.

Piet, or “Blommie” as he was affectionately known to his colleagues, served IMATU as a shop steward and Regional Executive Committee member, for approximately 20 years, before joining IMATU in a full-time capacity as our National Finance Manager in August 2008.

Piet’s years of experience in varying capacities as a Municipal employee, particularly in the Internal Audit field, proved invaluable in first stabilising, and then strengthening IMATU’s financial operations to the point where we now receive clean audits and are financially stronger than we ever have been.

Piet devoted his nearly nine years at the IMATU National Office, to building systems, procedures and developing policies, that have not only strengthened this organisation, but that will serve as his legacy for years to come.

Piet was fondly always teased that Excel spreadsheets were what he ate, drank, and dreamed of at night. He would sit in his office for oftentimes, up to 10 hours a day, passionately working on the next “template”. When Piet could bear to drag himself away from his beloved Excel, he was an avid participant in many IMATU 4-balls over the years, and our golfing team will also sorely miss him in this capacity.

For those of us who were privileged to get to know Piet on a more personal level, we will miss him for so many more reasons than just his invaluable contribution to IMATU as an organisation.

Piet was our friend, our brother, an integral part of our IMATU family. His passing has left us shattered, and we will forever have a big hole in our hearts.

We draw solace from the certain knowledge that Piet is now finally at peace in a place where there is no more suffering and pain.

Piet, we salute you, we miss you, and we will always remember you. You will be in our hearts forever.

“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them”.