The Cape Town Press Club pays tribute to Professor Johannes Philippus (JP) van Niekerk, former Head of Surgery and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cape Town, and a long-standing, loyal member of our Club.

Prof van Niekerk was a distinguished surgeon, academic, and leader whose career spanned decades of service to medicine and public health. As Dean of Medicine at UCT (1990–1998), he strengthened postgraduate training and advanced medical publishing, later guiding the South African Medical Journal.

Beyond his professional achievements, he was a valued presence within the Press Club — thoughtful, engaged, and steadfast in his support of its mission.

He is survived by his wife Annette and their three children. His legacy endures in the countless lives he touched, the institutions he shaped, and the community he enriched.

We honour his memory with gratitude and respect.