Van Niekerk took a final bow
Louis van Niekerk, a well-known and popular geohydrologist from Bloemfontein, sadly lost his life to Covid-19 on 1 August 2021 at the age of 56 years. Mr van Niekerk completed his master’s degree in geohydrology at the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS, University of the Free State) in 1989 and founded the company Rudolph Van Niekerk and Associates with Dirk Rudolph in 1990. This company was later registered as Geohydro Technologies OFS (Pty) Ltd (trading as GHT Consulting) and is still one of the most prominent consulting firms operating across South Africa and the African continent. Due to the large number of graduates who have gained their first employment at GHT Consulting, the firm has been good-humouredly referred to as the finishing school of the IGS. Many of these former employees are now respected geohydrologists themselves, working in the consulting industry and at academic institutions.
Louis’ nickname was Gatvol (Fed up) because he would often jokingly complain about the heavy workload of a consultant. Don't let this nickname fool you, he was deeply dedicated to delivering innovative work of a high standard and was well-respected and regarded in the groundwater community.
The Groundwater Division of the Geological Society of South Africa send their deepest condolences to the Van Niekerk family, and to all Louis’ friends and current and former colleagues.
From The GWD Central Branch. Drs Francious Fourie and Amy Allwright.
Rowena Hay: Founder and Director, Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd
Rest in Peace Rowena.
The GWD extends heartfelt condolences 
Rowena's family, friends and colleagues- and all the people that she touched by look, deed and word - right through her commendable life's journey. We are privileged to have had the opportunity to have learned from her and to have been inspired by her.
Rowena was one of the giants in the Groundwater Sector and the driving force behind many young hydrogeologist in the country. Her passion and leadership shall not be forgotten. Chris and Umvoto did not lose just a wife and a director but a true companion and visionary. She laid for us an great foundation to build on further and this how we all need to embrace her legacy and build further. Fanus Fourie
I expect that sadly you have already heard this news, Rowena Hay, Chris Hartnady's wife, and obviously a key player of Umvoto, passed away of long-Covid yesterday afternoon. Both she and Chris have been extremely ill for about the past three weeks. Chris is making slow progress but still struggling with no energy and has a ways to go. Rowena's passing is a huge loss to the geology and hydrology fraternity, and immensely sad given they had both started stepping away from the company to spend time doing other things including community work and projects via their Mvoto Trust. John Bristow
I have just heard of the passing of Rowena yesterday (8 July) due to Covid-19. Chris is also in hospital, but he is recovering slowly. Rowena made some massive contributions to the groundwater community and changed the way things are done. The deep drilling, the TMG project and the work on the water reconciliation projects for DWS are just some of the things she led. My thoughts are with her family and her colleagues, particularly those at Umvoto. Dr Roger Parsons
John Roberts shared the sad news of Rowena's passing with me. Please share my condolences with the personnel at Umvoto and with her family. She will leave a huge gap - in her family, the company and the groundwater industry. I was privileged to know her, work with her and learn from her. Dr Nicolette Vermaak
Rowena was a formidable woman. As you say Roger, she made some massive contributions to groundwater in SA, but also to so many individuals. She is the reason I am in South Africa, after a highly colourful phone call with her from the UK that I will never forget. I am forever grateful to her for the hugely positive 6 years I spent at Umvoto under her wing. It shaped me. My thoughts and prayers are with Chris, Michael and Ruth, and all the colleagues at Umvoto. Dr Helen Seyler
Terrible news. Our condolences to family and colleagues. We trust that Chris recovers well. Dr Kevin Pietersen
She was a great scientist and hydrogeologist and certainly made a big difference in how I think about groundwater. Well, for that matter, all off you on this list I have worked with did similar. So thank you for that too. May Chris be blessed and recover well, another big teacher in tectonics and stressors that helps how we conceptualise. Sonia Veltman
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Rowena Hay
Elizabeth Rowena Hay sadly and unexpectedly passed away on Thursday 8th July at the age of 65 after a battle with COVID-19. Rowena founded Muizenberg-based earth science, groundwater and integrated water resource management research consultancy Umvoto Africa in 1992, and was managing director until her passing. Rowena grew up on a farm near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape (a time she always spoke fondly about, and where she also learned to speak fluent isiXhosa), and studied at the University of Cape Town achieving her BSc (1978), BSc Honours (1981) and MSc (1984) degrees in geology. Prior to founding Umvoto Africa she worked at Anglo American, the South African Atomic Energy Corporation and the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (NAGRA) in Switzerland – it was here where the numerical modelling work she undertook helped lay the principles for the “monitor-model-manage” approach she would later apply across Umvoto Africa’s groundwater development projects.
Rowena was a trailblazer in the truest sense of the word, particularly for women in science and engineering and small business entrepreneurship (of which she and Umvoto Africa won numerous awards and recognition) not only in South Africa and Africa, but globally. She played an integral role in the understanding and development of the deep fractured aquifer systems of the Table Mountain Group, and pioneered the drilling of 500-1000 m ultradeep exploration and production boreholes across the Western Cape. Her jovial (but strict when required) rapport with even the most hardened drilling contractors, farmers and government officials was a joy to watch and a learning experience for many a young scientist – “it is all about the theatre, my dear” she would say with a huge grin and conductor-like waving arms, upon doing (or getting someone to agree to let her do) the “impossible”. She was also passionate about communities improving their livelihoods through the betterment of their surrounding natural environment, and was deeply involved in disaster risk reduction, gender mainstreaming and social hydrogeology projects (with many being undertaken for the United Nations, where she was a hugely respected international scientist). Out of this she recently established The Umvoto Foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at merging art and science to foster mutual learning and co-create sustainable solutions for resilient and empowered communities. The rehabilitation of the Lotus River/Canal in order to improve the functioning of the Cape Flats Aquifer and lives of people in the adjacent communities was one of her final goals, and will be continued through the foundation.
Rowena was a loving partner of Chris, mother to Mike and Ruth, much loved sister and aunt, and mentor (and in some cases second mother) to her Umvoto Africa staff (and numerous interns) from the past 30 years. Her unique humour, wit, passion, vibrancy and insight will be greatly missed, but her legacy will continue onwards in the people who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Many of her famous terms (“no squirrelling rule”, “sideways arabesque”, amongst many others), huge smile and boisterous laugh will be forever remembered, and her spirit will wash in time with the tides into her favourite South Peninsula tidal pools. Umvoto Africa and The Umvoto Foundation sends their deepest condolences to the Hay and Hartnady families, and all of Rowena’s friends and colleagues. Any condolences can be sent through to Umvoto Africa at [email protected], as the family has asked for privacy at the moment.
It was with great sadness that we learned that, following the passing of Rowena, Chris also succumed. We respect this time of mourning for All.
Dr Chris Hartnady - Research & Technical Director at Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd
Rest in Peace Dr Chris.
What a profound double loss to all family, friends and colleagues. Our deepest condolences.
We will continue celebrating in the incredible life and legacy of these giants.
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Chris Hartnady
Dr Christopher John Hubert Hartnady has also sadly and unexpectedly passed away from COVID-19 complications on Friday 23rd July at the age of 76. Chris was technical director of Muizenberg-based earth science, groundwater and integrated water resource management research consultancy Umvoto Africa from when he joined the company in 1999 until 2016, following which he fulfilled the role of non-executive director until his passing. During his time at Umvoto Africa Chris played an integral role with Rowena Hay in the understanding and development of the deep fractured aquifer systems of the Table Mountain Group, where he pioneered the use of remote sensing, geothermal, space-geodetic and hydroseismic studies of these unique fractured aquifers. He became a respected legend known as the “the Professor” with farmers in the Citrusdal and Klein Karoo regions, due to his finding groundwater in the TMG at depths and areas where it was thought not possible.
Prior to joining Umvoto Africa, Chris had a storied career as an academic in the earth and geological sciences at the University of Cape Town. Chris achieved his BSc (1965), BSc Honours (1966), MSc (1969) and PhD (1978) degrees in geology from UCT. His MSc work on the structural geology of the Malmesbury Group in the Western Cape, and PhD work on the structural geology of the Naukluft Nappe Complex in the Damara Orogenic Belt of Namibia, is still referenced today. Chris then went on to be a junior lecturer at the UCT geology department from 1972-1974, research (1974-1980) and senior research (1980-1986) officer at the Precambrian Research Unit (based at UCT), and finally an associate professor in structural geology at the UCT geology department from
1987 until his early retirement in 2000. During his academic and consulting career Chris published over 50 peer reviewed papers, book chapters and monographs, over 100 conference abstracts and presentations, and hundreds of technical consulting reports. Chris was internationally renowned in the fields of geotectonics and geodynamics, and made fundamental contributions to understanding the past and ongoing motions of the African plates (including discovering a major new “Lwandle” plate in the global tectonic system). Chris also played a major role in studying and better understanding geohazard risk and promoting disaster risk reduction on the African continent, and was a strong advocate for appreciating the seismic risk in Cape Town and the Western Cape (there are very few, if any, people with as exhaustive knowledge about the history of earthquakes in Cape Town as he had).
Chris was the epitome of a geologist, in the best way possible. He was active in the field even into his 70s, and would stay up until the early hours of the morning or wake up at the crack of dawn to watch volcanoes such as Mount Etna (his other love after Rowena and his children) on live stream or review the impacts of major earthquakes, perusing any data he could find. He was meticulous in the analysis of the most fine-scale geological and hydrogeological data, and would identify trends and features invisible to even the best geologists. Despite his intense focus and sometimes stubborn nature (“it’s the Catholic Irishman in me” he would always say with a giggle), he was never selfish with his knowledge and would joyfully spend hours discussing whatever topic was at hand with students, colleagues and friends. This is shown in the over 40 Honours, MSc and PhD students he supervised, many of whom have become major leaders in their respective geological fields and industries.
Chris was a loving partner of Rowena (who also sadly passed away from COVID-19 recently), father to Mike and Ruth, much loved brother, and mentor to numerous Umvoto Africa staff and UCT (and other university) students. He was positively stoic and hugely caring, and only ever wanted people to reach the potential that he could see in them. Along with his incomparable mind and knowledge, his stories (such as how the Hartnady family found their way to South Africa) after few glasses of good red wine will be greatly missed. One of his retirement goals was to walk the Appalachian Trail, and we hope he and Rowena are out there hand in hand walking it together right now.