Tribute to Maria Coetzee
The loss of Maria Coetzee, leaves her family, friends and colleagues in mourning. She was the Research Group Leader for Urban and Regional Planning in the Spatial Planning and Systems competence area of CSIR Built Environment. Maria went peacefully on Sunday 2 November 2014. She passed away from an aggressive brain tumour that was identified some three months ago.
Maria made huge steps and left deep footprints in the construction of the post-1994 South African Planning world/framework through her work on the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in the municipal sphere. She took it further, in bringing national and provincial planning into the fold of integrated development planning, and tied the concept to environmental planning, sustainability and resilience. She was the prime author of the first handbook on IDP in South Africa and subsequent Guide Packs for use throughout the country and played a huge part in laying the groundwork for the National Development Plan.
On a personal level, many will agree that she touched the lives of the people she worked with and opened doors of opportunities for others, wherever she could. She was unapologetically, passionate about the planning profession and believed that planners can make difference in South Africa.
To quote Prof Mark Oranje: “Maria may have left us in one form, but that fire, her fire, her passion, her care, her anger at stupidity, dishonesty, dullness and shallowness, her dreams of an ever-better tomorrow and her willingness to lead the way, will never leave us, and never will and shall she be forgotten by this profession. May all of us, especially those of us in the Planning fraternity take courage, passion, hope, belief, care and compassion from Maria’s life, her hard work, her dedication and her guidance. Maria, the South African Planning fraternity has been and ever will be enriched, energised and emboldened by you.”
On behalf of the SAPI Board and members, colleagues and friends, wish her family peace and comfort.