It is with sadness that we heard of Louis de Waal’s passing. Louis was a man with a giant heart who leaves behind a legacy of community involvement and giving back to the people of Cape Town.
Louis was a keen cyclist and was integral to creating what is now the Cape Town Cycle Tour – the biggest timed bike race in the world. Louis was one of only seven people to take part in every single Cape Town Cycle Tour for 42 years.
In 2002, he founded the Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) with the goal of promoting sustainable social and economic empowerment through the use of bicycles – giving hope and a step up to those who need it most.
Louis de Waal had a long and illustrious career with the Table Mountain Cableway, which included 40 years as Director and 20 as its Chair. He loved visiting Table Mountain and helping with the annual Cableway Charity Challenge.
Robin Carlisle remembers Louis with the following words:
If there was a finer citizen of Cape Town, I don’t know who it was. He excelled in so many diverse areas – cycling, rugby, business, politics, community involvement.
He was one of the “magnificent seven’ who pioneered the Argus cycle tour, and then rode it every year for about 40 years. He was the CEO of the CT Cableway, and the initiator of trebling its volumes – a very risky business, but one which has served our tourism more than any other.
He and his wife were committed liberals who fought for the rights of all, and they both paid a price at the hands of the state.
He was a gentle and friendly man, hopeful and considerate, and yet his last years were so bitterly unfair.
I mourn him and will always remember his sweet smile.
I loved him, as did many of us in the Marina.
Hail and farewell, dear Louis.
