Ronelle Rademeyer, the former secretary-general (SG) of the Editors Forum of Namibia (EFN), who died on Monday evening, has been hailed as a trailblazer in the media industry by those in the political and media fraternities.
Rademeyer, a veteran journalist and former news editor of Republikein newspaper who passed away on Monday evening, is known as a very committed journalist who lived by the words ‘the news must go out.’
Rademeyer started the AgriMonitor section of the Network Media Hub and is widely remembered as kind, empathetic, fearless, and loyal.
Former Agriculture Minister John Mutorwa said he was utterly shocked by the news of her passing, saying, “When I was in agriculture, she was covering that area. I am so extremely touched by her unexpected passing, and I would like to extend my sincere condolences both at my personal level and as a public servant. She was always very professional. In actual fact, we spoke in Afrikaans for some of the interviews we had,” he said.
In a media statement issued on Tuesday morning, the Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu) remembered Rademeyer as a staunch mentor for young journalists.
According to Nampu acting Secretary-General (SG) Jemima Beukes, Rademeyer’s career was marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism.
She also hailed Rademeyer’s dedication to her craft and her relentless pursuit of truth and fairness, which set her apart as a beacon of journalistic integrity.
“Beyond her professional achievements, Ronelle was a pillar of support and a mentor to many, particularly young reporters who were just starting their careers. She had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel valued and included. Ronelle was always ready to offer guidance, whether it was consulting colleagues on work and media matters or sharing her extensive knowledge on various subjects. Her willingness to help others and her generous spirit created an environment of learning and growth in the newsroom,” said Beukes.
She added that she worked closely with Rademeyer, who made a significant impact in the male-dominated media space as one of the few female news editors in Namibia.
Namibia’s ambassador to China, Elia Kaiyamo, also expressed his condolences, saying the late journalist’s death is not only a loss to her family but to the entire Namibian nation.
“She was an exceptional person with a good conscience. May her soul rest in peace.”
Rademeyer, who was one of the founders of the Afrikaans language initiative, the Woordfees, started her reporting career at the Beeld daily newspaper in Pretoria about 33 years ago and also spent some time working for the Afrikaans magazine Sarie.
She grew up on their family farm in the Otjiwarongo district and graduated from the University of Stellenbosch. She leaves behind her husband, Lourens, and two sons, Wilhelm and André.