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18 July 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Evert Kleynhans
Heidedal Drug Awareness Campaign
Pastor shares with Heidedal learners how drugs landed him in prison.
His father died when he was just three years old. A mourning single mother had to raise three boys. As the middle child, feeling abandoned and unloved, he joined a gang. Home was a cold and empty place and so were the streets of Grabouw, a small town in the Western Cape where he grew up. This is how Ivor Swartz’s story began.

A 15-year-old Swartz told himself: “Because I am not loved at home, maybe I will feel loved on the streets.” It did not take long for the ugly truth to emerge. When it did, he turned to drugs for comfort.

Behind bars

One evening when Swartz and a friend were at a local tavern, they were involved in an altercation. They pulled out guns and fired shots at two males. “My judgement was clouded by the drugs so my friend and I shot my blood brother,” he remorsefully reminisces. 

From prisoner to pastor

Swartz was imprisoned for six-and-a-half years, during which time he matriculated. He has been a free man for 14 years. For the past five years Swartz has been a youth pastor at St. Paul’s United Church in Johannesburg. He has also trained as a life coach and holds an Honours degree in Theology from the University of Pretoria.

Swartz shared the story of how drugs almost ruined his future with 1100 Olympia Primary School learners in Heidedal recently. He was the guest speaker at a two-day Community Outreach Drug Awareness campaign led by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Division for Organisational Development and Employee Wellness.

Compassionate beyond campus

Burneline Kaars, Head of the Division, said the campaign is one of the ways in which the university shows that it cares for the community. “We strive to improve the wellbeing of staff and the community at large.”

Swartz and the UFS team visited seven schools in Heidedal from 10-11 July 2019. where they cautioned future leaders and parents against how drugs shape the choices that individuals make. 

Pursuing a better story

Swartz was sitting in solitary confinement when he heard a song by UK singer Robbie Williams. The lyrics were: “Cause I got too much life running through my veins going to waste.” These words changed his life.

“I decided I wanted a better life,” said Swartz. He now lives to make a positive contribution to society and has written a new conclusion to his life’s story.

News Archive

UFS acknowledge 53 for long service
2004-11-03

Long service awards for 35 years: Mrs. Christa du Plessis, Centre for Higher Education studies and Development, mnr. John Moorosi, Soil- and Crop- and Climate Sciences , prof. Frederick Fourie, rector, prof. Jopie Botha, Institute for Groundwater Studies, me. Susan Reineke, Plant Sciences, Dr. Sarie van Vuuren of Sociology and me. Aletta de Klerk, Kovsie Sport.

Fifty three personnel members received long service awards in the centenary year of the university for respectively 35 years of service and 25 years of service.

Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector, said to the recipients of the long service awards: “In a year in which the writing of history of the UFS took a prominent place in the Centenary celebrations and in which one relived the past hundred years, the value we add to the university on a daily basis is clearly visible. Many personnel members contributed to make the UFS a valued institution and will proceed to do that in the spirit of 100+.”

He thanked and acknowledged personnel for the plus they add to each day’s work. “The students which enter the UFS each year, want to thank you for an university which on an innovative manner impacted their lives. “You helped to create the building blocks for their future,” he said.

Prof. J. F. Botha, Mr M.G. Botha, Ms A. De Klerk, Mr M.J. Doman, Prof. H.C. Janse van Rensburg and Ms S.M.C. Reinecke received awards for 35 years of service.

For 25 years of service at the university Prof. S.L. Barnard, Mr B. Botma, Dr H. J. Breytenbach, Dr M.W. Brussow, Mr N.L. Combrink, Ms A.J. Du Plessis, Ms C. Du Plessis, Prof. L. Goedhals, Mr M.E. Hlazo, Prof. B.B. Hoek, Dr S.J.E. Janse van Vuuren, Mr M. Kgasane, Ms A. Kgosi, Dr W.P. Konig, Dr P.A.L. Le Roux, Prof. N.J. Luwes, Dr N. Luyt, Ms S.E. November, Ms M. Mabaso, Ms M.K. Maruping, Prof. J.D. Marx, Mr J.P. Masedi, Mr G. Mokapane, Mr J. Mokapane, Ms M.L. Molosi, Ms M.M. Molwagale, Mr P.J. Moorosi, Ms C. Moroagae, Ms E. Moroale, Mr G.G. Mothokwane, Prof. M. Mulder, Prof. A.C. Otto, Ms H. Pelser, Ms E. Pelzer, Ms M.M. Pheko, Prof. E. Pretorius, Ms M.P. Richter, Ms E. Rouls, Prof. M.T. Seaman, Prof. R.B. Snowdowne, Prof. J.P. Strauss, Ms M.S. Tsolo, Prof. H.J. van der Linde, Dr S. van Vuuren, Prof. J.B. van Wyk, Dr J.M. van Zyl, Prof. T. Verschoor and Ms M.H.S. York received an long service award.

“Be assured of my appreciation for your loyalty and commitment to a university which is taking careful steps into a new century of its existence. If we do the right things right and with a sincere belief in our heavenly Father we will be able to build on the solid foundation laid by people like you,” he said.

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