‘Oom Sarel’ – a worthy opponent

SAREL J Becker, former Regional Secretary for the right-wing Herstigte Nasionale Party (HNP) of South Africa, who died of a heart attack at the age of 76 on Tuesday, was a frequent visitor to the offices of The Namibian before Independence.

It may surprise some that while he was perceived by many as a die-hard Afrikaner and rabid racist, he would nevertheless enter into lively debate, discussion and disagreement with staff of The Namibian, whether black or white, but never on an unpleasant level. ‘Oom Sarel’ as he was called by most staff, would usually arrive with a copy of The Namibian under his arm, its masthead hidden from view.He took issue with me personally after we started the newspaper in 1985, saying that the name we chose, The Namibian, was a direct affront to many Afrikaners who perceived it as being directly linked to Swapo, and thereby communism, and they would not buy it for that reason.The Welwitschia would have been a better choice, I recall him suggesting to me, but he bought The Namibian nonetheless.Staff teased him about his views, and he took what were often less than thinly veiled insults about his politics in good spirit.He in turn openly took issue with us and suggested the then mouthpiece of the HNP, Die Afrikaner, was a better read.Becker was a staunch supporter of Jaap Marais, the leader of the HNP, whose rousing speeches had his audience rooted to their seats, and ‘Oom Sarel’ was always in his element when Marais visited Windhoek.The HNP was formed in 1968 by Albert Hertzog as a response to what was then perceived as an easing of apartheid by the National Party government, as well as the removal from the then SA Cabinet of Herzog and close supporters.In 1969 Becker, a trained advocate and the first legal advisor of the Windhoek City Council, was appointed Regional Secretary of the HNP in then South West Africa.Becker was born at Gobabis in 1930 and was married to Elizabeth Katrina Becker, a long-time teacher who was held in very high regard in educational circles.After Independence in 1990, the HNP, which had never really been a political force of much note in Namibia, became defunct, but ‘Oom Sarel’ still continued to call at the newspaper from time to time, even though he was effectively out of politics.Although his right-wing views were disliked, he was nevertheless perceived to be a ‘gentleman’, a well-read man whose focus of attack was largely reserved for those he referred to as ‘National Party sell-outs’ rather than the then liberation movement.A supporter of the old Odendaal Plan, he prided himself on the fact that he had never done harm to any black person, neither did he have the right to interfere in what he considered their affairs.He was a well-known sight in Windhoek before Independence, usually on foot in town, always smartly dressed in a suit, with an erect posture and amiable towards his critics.* His funeral will take place on Friday at 14h00 from the NG Moedergemeente Church in Windhoek.’Oom Sarel’ as he was called by most staff, would usually arrive with a copy of The Namibian under his arm, its masthead hidden from view.He took issue with me personally after we started the newspaper in 1985, saying that the name we chose, The Namibian, was a direct affront to many Afrikaners who perceived it as being directly linked to Swapo, and thereby communism, and they would not buy it for that reason.The Welwitschia would have been a better choice, I recall him suggesting to me, but he bought The Namibian nonetheless.Staff teased him about his views, and he took what were often less than thinly veiled insults about his politics in good spirit.He in turn openly took issue with us and suggested the then mouthpiece of the HNP, Die Afrikaner, was a better read.Becker was a staunch supporter of Jaap Marais, the leader of the HNP, whose rousing speeches had his audience rooted to their seats, and ‘Oom Sarel’ was always in his element when Marais visited Windhoek.The HNP was formed in 1968 by Albert Hertzog as a response to what was then perceived as an easing of apartheid by the National Party government, as well as the removal from the then SA Cabinet of Herzog and close supporters.In 1969 Becker, a trained advocate and the first legal advisor of the Windhoek City Council, was appointed Regional Secretary of the HNP in then South West Africa.Becker was born at Gobabis in 1930 and was married to Elizabeth Katrina Becker, a long-time teacher who was held in very high regard in educational circles.After Independence in 1990, the HNP, which had never really been a political force of much note in Namibia, became defunct, but ‘Oom Sarel’ still continued to call at the newspaper from time to time, even though he was effectively out of politics.Although his right-wing views were disliked, he was nevertheless perceived to be a ‘gentleman’, a well-read man whose focus of attack was largely reserved for those he referred to as ‘National Party sell-outs’ rather than the then liberation movement.A supporter of the old Odendaal Plan, he prided himself on the fact that he had never done harm to any black person, neither did he have the right to interfere in what he considered their affairs.He was a well-known sight in Windhoek before Independence, usually on foot in town, always smartly dressed in a suit, with an erect posture and amiable towards his critics.* His funeral will take place on Friday at 14h00 from the NG Moedergemeente Church in Windhoek.