Professor Russel Botman dies

The board and management team of Media24 have expressed their profound sadness at the sudden passing of Professor Russel Botman (60), who died at his home on Friday evening.

(Image extracted from YouTube)

"Professor Botman was a highly regarded member of our board whose quiet authority and sharp intellectual and philosophical insight into the role and strategic course of Media24 were deeply valued. On top of it, he was just such a lovely man. His death, so shortly after the passing of Professor Jakes Gerwel, our previous chairman, comes as a double blow for Media24," says Esmaré Weideman, Media24 CEO.

Professor Botman served as a director of Media24 since April 2005 and was also rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University since 2007 and was reappointed for a second five-year term in 2012. During his early career, he made his mark as a church leader and champion of socioeconomic rights. He served as dean of the University of the Western Cape's theology faculty before joining Stellenbosch University in 2000 where he was vice-rector of the Centre for Teaching and Learning until 2007.

Management and staff of Bizcommunity.com extend our condolences to Professor Botman's family and associates.