I was privileged to attend the memorial service of Tinus Linee on
Thursday 6th November 2014
WHO WAS TINUS
Linee was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2013 and sadly
passed away on Monday 3 November 2014, aged 45, at his home in Paarl.
Marthinus "Tinus" Linee was a South African rugby player, who
predominantly played centre. He played all his provincial rugby for Western
Province and represented Western Province and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He
played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never
played in a test for South Africa.
Linee attended Nederburg Primary School along with his future wife,
Diana. This is the same school that delivered the likes of former Springbok
Chester Williams and former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
TRIBUTES
Even before listening to the tributes, as you enter the hall, the
attendance by the Paarl community spoke volumes of the golden boy of the valley
– as one speaker described him.
Speaker after speaker spoke of a humble person, someone who believed,
lived his dream and inspired others.
“Tinus proved how to realise dreams and to strive towards good things,”
says adv. Gesie van Deventer, executive mayor of Drakenstein, in a letter to
Linee’s widow, Diana.
Executive deputy mayor, Conrad Poole, described him as an ambassador of
his own life, who never lost focus.
In his message of encouragement to the mourners, Father Grant Walters
said “if you believe something, you live it and Tienie believed and lived as a
Christian.”
Hon. Gert Oosthuizen, deputy minister of Sport and Recreation, in his
keynote address said to an extend Tinus Linee was larger than live. “We should
celebrate his success on and off the field.
Addressing the crowd dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Cultural
Affairs and Sport MEC, said as the widow of a former rugby player herself, she
recalls and can related to the pain of Diana. She appealed to the rugby
community who stood by Linee, to continue supporting Diana now that Tinus is no
longer there. “She will need the support now more than ever, don’t leave her
behind and forget her.”
The minister apologised to the Linee family for being absent and not
supporting them during the 18 months, when they needed her support the most. To
his children she said they should remember he’s watching over them.
Mbombo started by saying she does not if Tinus knew what role-model he
was for the youth. “He was a rock and role-model for society and our
communities needs role-models.”
Breyton Paulse, program director, said in any tragic event, there’s a
lesson to learn. “The lesson here is that Tinus Linee and Chester Williams have
always been humble and that is the message to our youth, no matter what you
achieve, to always remain humble.”
STATE FUNERAL
As the Memorial service started in Paarl, Acting Premier, Anton Bredell
issued a statement saying the office of the Premier of the Western Cape takes
note of a statement by the Presidency that it did not receive a request by
Premier Helen Zille regarding the funeral of the late Linee. Bredell says the
provincial government has decided to offer financial assistance for the funeral
this coming Saturday in Paarl.
"President Jacob Zuma did not receive a letter from the government
of the Western Cape requesting the granting of a provincial official funeral
for former rugby player Mr Tinus Linee. The President once again extends his
condolences to the family of Mr Linee," reads the statement by thepresidency.
Shortly after this the ANC Western Cape tweeted:
"the DA should stop making cheap party politics of the funeral of
former Springbok and WP rugby player Tinus Linee."
"ANC demands of the premier and her cabinet to do whatever within
their means to immediately come to the assistance of Linee’s family."
I attended the memorial service and mentioned the attendance alone said
this was a Hero of the Valley, a role model for the youth. Reading the
statements by both the presidency, office of the premier and ANC tweets I couldn't help but feel hurt and thought:
1) The debate to grant Tinus Linee a state funeral
or not, is surely not who this humble smiling person was and it is definitely not
how his loved ones would want to remember him. He was after all a down to heart
person, a people’s person.
2) Would he have wanted all the big fuss? He’s
probably the only rugby player who never left his birth place to go look for
better opportunities and always remained humble.
3) Whether the premier sent the request to the
president or not, surely the president took note or was advised about the
outcry to declare an official funeral. If he did not take note or was not
advised, I would be worried.
4) Is it not within the premiers powers to declare
a provincial official funeral or should this be signed off by the president.
5) Was or is someone playing politics with the
issue? If so, I think it is wrong as a community is still mourning.
6) When I heard the news of the passing of Tinus,
my first thought was, he deserves a Civic funeral and now I wonder why the
executive mayor did not declared one. I can recall other local heroes, who were
role-models for society who received a Civic funeral.
7) Why are we playing the race card on this? 20
years into democracy this should not take place.
I strongly feel it is wrong of us as South African’s to compare the
funeral of Tinus Linee to that of Senzo Meyiwa (Bafana Bafana captain who was
murdered).
Meyiwa was at the time the current skipper of one of our national teams
and in my humble opinion, it is only right to afford him a state funeral.
Linee, was a remarkable former rugby player, with a successful career
and even though I support the proposal of a provincial funeral – I also think
it is unfair to compare the two.
Whether he’s afforded an official funeral or not, that will not
determine his legacy that should live on.
Or as executive deputy Mayor of Drakenstein Conrad Poole said: “may the
tributes result in the creation of more Tinus Linee’s.
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