Tributes to Mr Chose Choeu – Former Vice-President of the Randburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Former President of the South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry
SACCI President 2007-2008 Professor Alwyn Louw
I met Chose Choeu as a newcomer to the Business Chamber movement and had the privilege of working with him in various capacities over the past almost twenty years.
He was a valued colleague and much-appreciated friend. With the same commitment he lived his friendship he dedicated himself to the service of his community and the broader society.
I had the deepest appreciation for his integrity and honest commitment to contribute to the betterment of the life of people and the development of the ideal for a non-racial and equal South Africa in which all people will experience peace, security, and economic progress. His contributions will always stand as a monument to who he was.
My best wishes and prayers go to his family.
Professor Alwyn Louw
Vice Chancellor: Torrens University, Australia.
SACCI President 2009 Mr Babu Baijoo
I am devastated to learn of the passing of Chose Choeu. Too me he was Mr Integrity. A non-racist, non-sexist, democrat.
I have known him for a long while but had the fortune and honour of working with him intimately from 2007 to 2010
We came together to resuscitate the erstwhile South African Chamber of Business (SACOB) which suffered a stab wound inflicted by the “transformation” Agenda. SACOB was bleeding. Major local and regional chambers and corporates withdrew their membership. Chose was among a few who felt passionately that SACOB still had a role in the organised business sector, in an emerging democratized South Africa which was suffering from growing pains.
Chose played a valuable and integral role in dismantling SACOB and launching a restructured and rebranded South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), affiliated to the International Chamber of Commerce (I.C.C) based in Paris. Chose supported my nomination for President of SACCI in 2009. I was elected with Chose as Deputy President.
Chose supported me during that term with passion and objectivity. On the eve of the board meeting of March 2010, I was approached by, the KZN African National Congress (KZN-ANC), to accept the role of Speaker of the almost defunct Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg). It would be a huge conflict to hold both these positions. Andrew Layman and Chose counselled me through this. We took an objective decision. At the board meeting the next day, Chose, proposed to the meeting that I be granted leave from the presidency for a month. Chose acted for that month but continued to brief me regularly of the deliberations that took place.
I eventually accepted the Speaker’s post and resigned from SACCI. Chose assumed the Presidency and succeeded me in the following term. He steered the organization to new heights.
Go well my brother. Gone too soon. South Africa has lost a giant
I will miss you
Babu Baijoo
SACCI President 2013- 2014 Mr Clive Manci
If I had one thing to say in tribute to Chose, I would praise his art of aligning people and big picture objectives in the most unintimidating and regardful way. We have lost a born leader.
Clive Manci
SACCI President 2015 –2016 Mr Vusi Khumalo
Ntates! As I used to address him. Your passing away was such a shock to me for various thought-provoking reasons. What a pleasure it was to serve under your Presidency at SACCI! Very forthright, humane, and inspiring and one knew exactly where one stands with you. You were ethical in all respects of governance and practical in your fact-based decision-making process!! You served the organisation and the Business community with distinction hence you represented both SACCI and the country globally and amassed the respect we deserve. I learnt and grew from your unwavering leadership and respecting all our partners in building the SACCI and South Africa Business Brand!! Fare thee well Ntates and I have sent an SMS to Gabriel the guardian Angel to sing along to welcome your soul in the Kingdom of God!!
Vusi Khumalo