Draft:Willem Daniel van Deventer

Dr. Willem Daniel van Deventer was Born in BETHLEHEM, SOUTH AFRICA in 1952 but completed his high school, grade 12, at Afrikaans high, Germiston in 1969.

In 1970 he was drafted to the SOUTH AFRICAN AIRFORCE, and trained to serve as OPERATIONS INTELLIGENCE for 21sq, Swartkops, Pretona.

In May 1971 the 4 HAWKER SYDNEY HS-125 aircraft left for CAPE TOWN as part of the celebrations, I Aircraft to return to base, technical difficulties, the following day the other 3 aircraft crashed into the foothills of Table Mountain, killing all crew and passengers. Leaving Dr Willem and 2 other officers as the sole survivors of the squadron.

After an honourable discharge in 1971 he joined the family business while pursuing his flying career with both single and dual engine planes, took helicopter courses and enjoyed flying gliders. He further joined a parachute club, completed the course and the club was selected to do the stunt jumps for a movie  The Wild GEESE starring ROGER MOORE, RICHARD HARRIS AND RICHARD BURTON,

He has accumulated hundreds of flying hours and as a final flight did a REAL SIMULATOR SESSION in NEW ZEALAND flying a BOEING 737-300 Educational training.

During training he had a parachute failure, landed with an emergency chute. His favourite passion was annual hunting trips with lifelong friend Mike Retief, who passed away in 2025, and others.

HE CONTRIBUTED ON THE WIKIPEDIA PROFILE OF GENI SIR JACOB LOUIS VAN DEVENTER A RELATIVE TWICE KNIGHTED BY KING GEORGE.

Started a BACHELOR OF COMMERCE degree at UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA but. At the end of 2nd year transferred to TRINITY COLLEGE and gained a BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Degree. Accomplished an MBA with CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY as well as PHD from CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. Also received a post graduate diploma.

Memberships

THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF SA, April 1990. Chairman of the VAN DEVENTER FAMILIEBOND, 3 April 1993,Affiliate Member of the INSTITUTE OF PERSONAL MANAGEMENT (SA), July  1, DAMELIN Management School, DIPLOMA SALES MANAGEMENT, 9 April 1976, INSTITUTE OF MARKETING MANAGEMENT, got , Affiliate member 23 February 1978, Associate member, 8 July 1988, FULL MEMBER, 15 July 1997.

Currently still very actively involved with CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ENGLISH webinars as well as CAMBRIDGE University Press EDITAGE based in SINGAPORE for post doctoral webinars.

He speaks 6 languages: AFRIKAANS, ENGLISH, CHOZA, ZULU, DUTCH AND FLEMISH. And  has a working understanding of GERMAN AND LATIN. Currently trying to learn the local language.

He is a lifetime member of NAUI, before he retired he held positions as instructor, instructor trainer and finally course director. Received award for 30 years service in 2023. Throughout his service, he received multiple NAUI Ambassador Awards in recognition of his contributions to diver education and safety.

He also qualified as DIVERS ALERT NETWORK instructor trainer and saved the lives of 2 divers in one day. He received a DAN award from Dr Frans Cronje on 12 August 2000.

In 1993 he was asked to write a book on the history of FORT WYNYARD, CAPETOWN and received a letter from the government giving permission to also write a book on all fallen soldiers during the ANGOLA conflict. He was assigned 2 LIEUTENANTS as aides and resided on his visits to PRETORIA in the officers' mess. This project stopped due to changes in politics in SA.

He became involved with SIR DEVILLIERS GRAAF, the leader of the opposition party in SA who arranged for him to visit ROBBEN ISLAND. He also met socially with Cabinet Minister PIK BOTHA, who at times stood in as Prime Minister FOR SA.

Before leaving SA he visited SEYCHELLES, MOZAMBIQUE, MAURITIUS, REUNION ISLAND, MALDIVES, ROBIN ISLAND, BOTSWANA, ZIMBABWE, SWAZILAND, SOUTH WEST AFRICA AND OTHERS.

Left his birth country in 2010, travelled to UK, USA, NEDERLANDS, FRANCE, BELGIUM, ITALY, GREECE, ISRAIL, SWITZERLAND, CYPRUS, CHINA, SINGAPORE, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA,BALI, INDONESIA, MALASIA, THAILAND. During his NEW ZEALAND trip he met Prince Harry on two tours.

He has published a number of books, a thesis for MBA AND PHD, 2 books on GENEALOGY dated 1989 and 1993, and numerous other books available on AMAZON AND KINDLE.

His other hobby is painting, with some of his work in SA, USA, UK, NEW ZEALAND and in the Philippines. This is part of his art collection which includes H G VAN ASWEGEN AND BENJAMIN MACALA among others.

Currently retired and living with his wife CARMELA MAE on a small farm on SAMAL ISLAND creating a garden attracting numerous wild life, birds and lizards.