Profile on Leon and Elzette van Niekerk

Our next St Patrick’s profile in 2018 is on Leon van Niekerk and his family. Leon has made a huge impact on the St Patrick’s congregation since about three years ago when he took up a post at Fort Hare University. He was staying at Hogsback looking for a house and involved himself fully in all activities and was a popular figure in the community. Apart from his helpfulness and commitment; he has three strings to his bow: a Psychologist; an Academic and a Dominee! In addition, he took the Afrikaans services and was elected to the Chapel Council. Unfortunately, the house he found was in Gonubie which suited Elzette as she had been offered a post at Fort Hare as well, in the East London branch. However, their loyalty to St Patrick’s was such that they have continued to be part of the St Patrick’s congregation by travelling from East London up to Hogsback on the first Sunday every month to take an Afrikaans service organised by Norma who also plays the piano. Leon has touched the congregation through his warmness and superb sermons. He has also been valued for his counselling. He has been the leader of two of our annual retreats, each of which was memorable.

The Van Niekerk family: Rudolph, Elzette, Leon, Frances

Leon and Elzette van Niekerk were married in July 1992 and are newcomers to the Eastern Cape. They have been living in East London since January 2016. Leon was born in Vereeninging, where he grew up and completed school in 1981. He studied at the North-west University (then Potchefstroom University of Christian Higher Education) till 1989, where he completed his BA degree, Hons degree in Criminology and B Theology. He served as pastor in churches in Warrenton (where he met his wife Elzette in 1991), Sasolburg and Johannesburg, where he has been a Minister of Religion for 25 years.  He also completed his Honours, Masters and PhD in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. He completed a Masters’ Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium. He is a registered Counselling Psychologist and taught Psychology and Sport Psychology at the University of Johannesburg for 15 years, before taking his current position of Professor is Sport Psychology at the University of Fort Hare.

Elzette also studied at the North-west University since 1984, where she completed a BSc degree and received her HED from the University of Pretoria in 1988. She started a teaching career in Kimberley (where she met Leon) and taught in various schools (Sasolburg, Johannesburg, King Williams Town) till she started a career as E-learning specialist at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Fort Hare.

Leon and Elzette have two children, Rudolph (21) and Frances (19). Both of them are currently students at their Alma Mater (North-west University) in Potchefstroom. After completion of Diplomas in Game farm management and Hospitality, Rudolph is now studying a B Com (Tourism and game farm management), while Frances is studying a B Com (Chartered Accounting).

Leon is a keen golfer and squash player, while both he and Elzette enjoy doing Park runs on Saturdays.

Leon and Elzette keep themselves fit, here Leon has just run the Surfers Marathon; When Leon and Elzette come up on a Sunday, members of the congregation enjoy hosting them, as Maggie did on this occasion

Leon led the popular and stimulating Retreat at Hunterstoun in 1916

Leon led the lovely two-day Retreat at Grasslands farm in 2017 where some spent three nights and others came during the day

We thank Leon and Elzette for the huge spiritual impact they make at St Patrick’s, and for their friendliness and support. We have been hugely blessed by their presence. 

Ons is baie dankbaar vir Leon en Elzette se vriendlikheid en kosbare bydra tot ons gemeente. Ons waardeur dit baie.