Gert Hanekom

Gerhardus Jacobus 'Gert' Hanekom (30 March 1930—2 December 1999), affectionately known as Oom Gert , was a Namibian politician serving in several ministerial portfolios.

Biography Hanekom was born on 30 March 1930 in Redelinghuys in South Africa Western Cape. He attended school there and graduated from the University of South Africa as a chartered accountant. He subsequently worked as accountant in the private sector. In 1956 he took up accounting work in Windhoek

Although initially a member of the Afrikaner nationalist National Party (NP), Hanekom worked with SWAPO shortly before Namibian independence and joined the party in 1990.

Hanekom joined the National Assembly in 1990 by appointment of president Sam Nujoma as Namibia's first Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

Hanekom was ill with cancer and heart problems. He died on 2 December 1999 and was awarded a state funeral.