Jakes Gerwel
Jakes Gerwel | |
|---|---|
| Director-general, Office of the President of South Africa | |
| In office 1994–1999 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Secretary of the Cabinet, Government of National Unity | |
| In office 1994–1997 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Chancellor, Rhodes University | |
| In office 1999–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Gavin Relly |
| Succeeded by | Lex Mpati |
| Vice-chancellor, University of the Western Cape | |
| In office 1987–1994 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gert Johannes Gerwel 18 January 1946 Somerset East, South Africa |
| Died | 28 November 2012 (aged 66) Cape Town, South Africa |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouse | Phoebe Gerwel (née Abrahams) |
| Alma mater | University of Brussels, University of the Western Cape |
| Positions | Global Chairman, Aurecon (2009–2012) Chairman, Media24 (2007-2012) Chairman, South African Airways (2004) Chairperson of Policy Committee, Cricket World Cup (2003) Chair, Human Sciences Research Council (1999–2012) |
Gert Johannes Gerwel (18 January 1946 – 28 November 2012) known mononymously as Jakes, was a South African academic and anti-apartheid activist. He served as director-general of the presidency when Nelson Mandela was in office. In 1999 Gerwel was instrumental in brokering the deal under which Lockerbie bombing suspects were extradited to Scotland. Following Mandela's presidency, Gerwel chaired the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, and also took up a number of academic and business positions until his death in November 2012.