WINDHOEK - The former deputy minister of what was then called the ministry of higher education at independence, Buddy Wentworth died yesterday morning at his home.

Wentworth who was a deputy minister following independence in 1990 died at his home in Olympia after a long battle with heart disease. He was in his late 70s. According to his friend Reggie Diergaardt, Wentworth retired from active politics in 2005 and went back to the classroom - a job he had done for the better part of his life before his appointment as deputy minister. “He was a teacher by profession. He did not do anything else besides education. Education was his passion. And so it did not surprise me when he was appointed as first deputy minister [of higher education] after independence. He served for 15 years in that position,” Diergaardt said.

Before his appointment as deputy minister, Wentworth taught at Dr Lemmer High School in Rehoboth prior to independence before he became a principal at Tamariskia Primary School in Swakopmund in the late 80s. “When he retired, he did not do anything else. He only lived with his family at their Olympia home until his death this morning,” his friend said. The former deputy minister is survived by his Muslim wife and 10 children from his first wife, who predeceased him. Since Wentworth was a devout Muslim he was laid to rest last night at around 21h00. His memorial service will be held over the weekend at a venue and time to be announced during the course of the week.

By Albertina Nakale

anakale@newera.com.na