It is with great sadness that the Faculty of Law has heard of the passing of research fellow, emeritus professor and retired judge H J Erasmus on Sunday, 15 May 2016. After earlier appointments as Professor of Latin at the University of the Orange Free State, Professor of Classics at the University of Port Elizabeth, and Professor of Law at UNISA, ‘Hennie’ (as he was affectionately known) joined the Stellenbosch Law Faculty as Professor in 1976. He served the Faculty with great distinction for almost two decades, including as Dean, till his retirement in 1995. Hennie Erasmus was the leading expert on the law of civil procedure in his day. He authored standard works in the field, such as Jones and Buckle – The Civil Practice of the Magistrates’ Courts in South Africa and Erasmus – Superior Court Practice, and contributed to law reform through drafting influential reports and involvement with the Rules Board. After his retirement, further recognition of his formidable talents as jurist was reflected in an appointment to the Cape High Court, where he quickly earned considerable respect for his wisdom, gentle demeanour and common sense. When he retired as judge, Hennie Erasmus re-forged his links with the Law Faculty by accepting appointments as extraordinary professor and research fellow in the Department of Private Law. This afforded him the opportunity to rekindle his interest in legal history, and especially the early history of legal practice in South Africa, a topic he continued to research until his sudden departure from us. Hennie Erasmus personified the values of collegiality, modesty and excellence. He will be sorely missed.Hennie Erasmus was born on 10 January 1935 in Ladysmith, Natal. He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and three children.
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Dit is met groot leedwese dat die Regsfakulteit verneem het van die heengaan van navorsingsgenoot, emeritus professor en afgetrede regter H J Erasmus op Sondag, 15 Mei 2016. Na hy die pos beklee het as Professor in Latyn aan die Universiteit van Oranje-Vrystaat, Professor in Klassieke Studies aan die Universiteit van Port Elizabeth en Professor in die Regsgeleerdheid aan UNISA het ‘Hennie’ (soos daar met deernis na hom verwys is) in 1976 by die Stellenbosse Regsfakulteit as professor aangesluit. Hy het die Fakulteit vir bykans twee dekades met onderskeiding gedien, onder andere as dekaan, tot sy aftrede in 1995. Hennie Erasmus was op sy dag die onbetwiste leier op die gebied van die siviele prosesreg. Hy was outeur van standaardwerke soos Jones and Buckle – The Civil Practice of the Magistrates’ Courts in South Africa en Erasmus – Superior Court Practice, en het tot regshervorming bygedra deur die opstel van invloedryke verslae en betrokkenheid by die Reëlsraad. Na sy aftrede het sy formidabele talente as juris verdere erkenning geniet deur ‘n aanstelling as regter aan die Kaapse Hooggeregshof (hy was geen vriend van die benaming ‘Hoë Hof’ nie), waar hy gerespekteer is vir sy wysheid, saggeaardheid en gesonde oordeel. Na sy aftrede as regter het Hennie Erasmus opnuut bande met die Fakulteit gesmee, deur aanstellings te aanvaar as buitengewone professor en navorsingsgenoot in die Departement Privaatreg. Dit het hom in staat gestel om sy belangstelling in regsgeskiedenis, en veral die vroeë geskiedenis van regspleging in Suid-Afrika, te hernu. Hierdie onderwerpe het hy bly navors tot sy skielike heengaan. Hennie Erasmus het die waardes van kollegialiteit, beskeidenheid en uitnemendheid vergestalt. Ons sal hom baie mis.
Hennie Erasmus was gebore op 10 Januarie 1935 in Ladysmith, Natal. Hy word oorleef deur sy eggenote, Maureen, en drie kinders.
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