Abram van Heerden : 7 September 1927 – 3 September 2021

Abstract

Abram van Heerden died peacefully in his sleep on 3 September after a long and fruitful life - four days short of his 94th birthday. He grew up on the farm Klipfontein near Wolmaransstad in the then Western Transvaal. After qualifying at Onderstepoort, he joined the state veterinary services and was stationed at Vryburg, Johannesburg and Piet Retief respectfully, before promoted to Assistant Director of Veterinary Services responsible for notifiable animal disease control. Abram left behind many monuments in the South African Veterinary Services. He can rightfully be honoured as the father of veterinary epidemiology in South Africa, having kept meticulous records of all outbreaks of sheep scab, bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis and rabies. Shortly before his retirement in 1985, he was promoted to Director Animal Health when the then Directorate of Veterinary Services was divided into two Directorates – Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health.