The community of Musina is shell-shocked, following the passing of Cllr Paul Herman, a prominent figure in the border town. Herman passed away last Wednesday (18 June) at a hospital in Polokwane after an illness, at the age of 55.

During his lifetime, Herman wore many hats, all of which fitted him perfectly. Since 2021, he had served as a proportional representative (PR) councillor deployed by the Freedom Front Plus in the Council of Musina Local Municipality, where he was a member of various committees. These included the Ethics, Finance, Corporate Services, Community Services, Special Programmes, and Technical Council committees. He was also a member of the school-governing body (SGB) of the local Eric Louw High School.

Despite his busy schedule, Herman balanced his roles effectively. He was the manager of The Courier Guy outlet in Musina. Residing at Farm Southfork, he was also a professional hunter and practised poultry and pig farming, among other activities.

Musina Mayor Nkhanedzeni Godfrey Mawela extended his condolences to the Herman family and wished them strength during this difficult time. “This is a very sad moment for us because Cllr Herman was a member of our bigger family at Musina Municipal Council. Cllr Herman discharged his duties with dedication and distinction. We will always remember him as a devoted public representative who demonstrated unwavering commitment and passion for his job. We send our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing and sharing moments with him. May his soul rest in peace.”

Cllr Herman’s death is also mourned by his colleagues in the FF Plus.

“Just as the apostle Paul acknowledges in Galatians 1:15 that the Lord God had set him apart before birth and called him to serve as an apostle of Jesus Christ to the nations, so too had God been preparing Paul from a young age for his later service,” said FF Plus provincial leader Mr André Moss.

Moss said they would remember Herman, like the apostle Paul, as a servant of his community who had always placed the needs of others above his own. “A gentle giant who never raised his voice, he was deeply humble and always saw the good in others – even when people at times took advantage of his kind-heartedness. His forgiving nature in such circumstances will remain with us, as will the memory of someone who lived close to his Creator and was happiest when surrounded by nature,” said Moss.

Moss concluded by saying that Herman lefta great void in his community and in the Freedom Front Plus. “The FF Plus extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Carina, his children, and his family. Your father left a deep imprint, and we will always remember him as the gentle giant he was, and for his legacy as a God-fearing man,” said Moss.

In a statement, Eric Louw High School also expressed sadness at Herman’s passing. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Herman, a valued member of our School Governing Body. His dedication, wisdom, and kindness left a lasting impact on our school community. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the statement reads.

Herman is survived by his wife, Carina, and their four children. He will be laid to rest from the Dutch Reformed (NG) Church Musina on Friday, 27 June.