Cape Town Mayor pays tribute to SA's first ambassador to USA, Dr Franklin Sonn
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed his condolences at the loss of Dr Franklin Sonn, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 86.
Mayor Hill-Lewis described Dr Sonn as ‘an extraordinary Capetonian, distinguished educator, diplomat, and business leader.
“Dr Sonn was a son of Cape Town whose work touched generations across our city and beyond. We owe Dr Sonn a debt of gratitude — not only for his achievements, but for his leadership in nation building, and his vision of an inclusive, just, and empowered society.
“Our city has lost one of its great moral and civic architects. Our thoughts are with his family. We remember also that Dr Sonn was a recipient of Cape Town Civic Honours,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Born in October 1939 in Vosburg, he grew up in the Eastern Cape, and later his family moved to Cape Town.
He went on to become the principal of Spes Bona High School in Athlone, and from 1978 as the Rector of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, a post he held until 1994, inspiring countless students and educators.
He was also a Chancellor at the University of the Free State.
In 1995, he was appointed by President Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first ambassador to the United States in the democratic era — a historic moment that underscored Dr Sonn’s stature and leadership.
Sonn was also a patron of the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival and was a trustee of the Desmond Tutu Freedom Trust.
He held 12 honorary doctorates and received the National Order Counsellor of the Baobab Silver in 2008 from former President Thabo Mbeki.
IOL