The University of the Western Cape mourns the passing of one of its legends – Professor Johannes Jacobus (Jaap) Fourie Durand, who fought bravely against the apartheid regime and was instrumental in erecting some of the institution’s most historic buildings.
Prof Durand was born on 5 June 1934 in the Free State. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of the Free State and continued studying at Stellenbosch University and then at the Free University in Amsterdam.
He began his career as a working minister in the Transkei before moving into academia and taking up a position as Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He proved himself so valuable that he was appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1981.
Prof Durand was in charge of academic and physical planning. Carefully allocating resources, guiding new appointments, and working with some of South Africa’s best architects, he helped UWC transform into one of South Africa’s leading institutions.
“Prof Durand was a legend at UWC. Much of the physical landscape at UWC is his legacy as he was responsible for physical planning. We mourn his passing and celebrate his massive contribution to UWC and his principled opposition to apartheid,” said Professor Tyrone Pretorius, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor.
Prof Durand tricked the apartheid government into spending money for infrastructure at the university that was built to offer limited training for Coloureds only.
But UWC defied the authorities by opening its doors to all students and it became the “intellectual home of the left”.
“He began the process of reconceptualising UWC’s intellectual vision, drawing the deans and other leaders together around the process, and unleashing exciting intellectual vitality in a university in the thick of political upheaval,” the late UWC Professor Stanley Ridge once said.
In the turbulent 1980s Professor Jaap Durand marched with senior UWC staff including Professor Jakes Gerwel and Professor Richard van der Ross (pictured, front row) along with 4000 students to the Bellville police station to demand the release of detained students.
When UWC’s library was built, Prof Durand secretly convinced the architect to build a glass brick into the atrium on the ground floor. The library was officially opened in 1989.
“It was a parody of what was happening at the Voortrekker Monument,” Prof Durand said while on a rare visit to the university in 2019.
At the Voortrekker Monument on 16 December - the commemoration of the Day of the Vow/Covenant - the dome is opened at the monument, and a ray of light shines on a cenotaph.
He explained that he wanted the light from the library’s glass ceiling to permeate the brick into the dark auditorium in the basement. This serves to commemorate 16 June 1976 and remember the UWC students who fought against apartheid.
He kept his tribute to the students secret, even from his closest colleagues, for more than 30 years.
WATCH: Professor Jaap Durand’s secret tribute to the students who mobilised on June 16
Prof Durand was born on 5 June 1934 in the Free State. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of the Free State and continued studying at Stellenbosch University and then at the Free University in Amsterdam.
He began his career as a working minister in the Transkei before moving into academia and taking up a position as Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He proved himself so valuable that he was appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 1981.
Prof Durand was in charge of academic and physical planning. Carefully allocating resources, guiding new appointments, and working with some of South Africa’s best architects, he helped UWC transform into one of South Africa’s leading institutions.
“Prof Durand was a legend at UWC. Much of the physical landscape at UWC is his legacy as he was responsible for physical planning. We mourn his passing and celebrate his massive contribution to UWC and his principled opposition to apartheid,” said Professor Tyrone Pretorius, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor.
Prof Durand tricked the apartheid government into spending money for infrastructure at the university that was built to offer limited training for Coloureds only.
But UWC defied the authorities by opening its doors to all students and it became the “intellectual home of the left”.
“He began the process of reconceptualising UWC’s intellectual vision, drawing the deans and other leaders together around the process, and unleashing exciting intellectual vitality in a university in the thick of political upheaval,” the late UWC Professor Stanley Ridge once said.
In the turbulent 1980s Professor Jaap Durand marched with senior UWC staff including Professor Jakes Gerwel and Professor Richard van der Ross (pictured, front row) along with 4000 students to the Bellville police station to demand the release of detained students.
When UWC’s library was built, Prof Durand secretly convinced the architect to build a glass brick into the atrium on the ground floor. The library was officially opened in 1989.
“It was a parody of what was happening at the Voortrekker Monument,” Prof Durand said while on a rare visit to the university in 2019.
At the Voortrekker Monument on 16 December - the commemoration of the Day of the Vow/Covenant - the dome is opened at the monument, and a ray of light shines on a cenotaph.
He explained that he wanted the light from the library’s glass ceiling to permeate the brick into the dark auditorium in the basement. This serves to commemorate 16 June 1976 and remember the UWC students who fought against apartheid.
He kept his tribute to the students secret, even from his closest colleagues, for more than 30 years.
WATCH: Professor Jaap Durand’s secret tribute to the students who mobilised on June 16
