In Memory of Ambassador Leslie Gumbi
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Jakkie Cilliers
Executive Director
Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria
Tel: +27 12 346 9500
Email: [email protected]
www.issafrica.org
In Memory of Ambassador Leslie Gumbi
Pretoria, South Africa - 17 July 2012 - The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is saddened to learn of the passing of Ambassador Leslie Mbangambi Gumbi on 11 July 2012.
Ambassador Leslie Gumbi was a key staff member of the Institute during the critical time in South Africa’s transition from Apartheid to a Democracy. He continued to support the work of ISS throughout his career at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Dr. Jakkie Cilliers said “Leslie was a kind and generous friend who made a substantial contribution to the work of the Institute. He joined us directly after coming out of exile back to South Africa and later went on to join the Department of Foreign Affairs, now DIRCO. We will miss his friendship and warm nature.” Senior Research Fellow, Noël Stott, added, “He was a good friend of the ISS and we shall miss his wisdom and support for a world free of weapons of mass destruction.”
Since moving to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague in February 2012, Ambassador Gumbi, as Director of International Co-operation and Assistance, consistently provided a strong African voice in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.
Ambassador Gumbi’s main professional focus was on peacekeeping, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. His recent speaking engagements in Europe and the United States of America included, amongst other presentations, the role of Africa in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, nuclear weapons free zones and the multilateral control of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Ambassador Gumbi’s decorations included the Flame of Peace (2007) and the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with a Sash awarded to him in 2010 by the Federal President of the Republic of Austria.
Various services have been arranged to honor Ambassador Gumbi:
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
DIRCO Memorial Service
Time: 12:00 to 13:00
Venue: to be confirmed
Friday, 20 July 2012
Evening Prayer
Time: 18:30
Venue: 4 Swartland
Glen Erasmia Boulevard
Kempton Park
Saturday, 21 July 2012
Funeral Service
Time: 08:00 to 10:00
Venue: Christ The King
Orlando East
Soweto
After the Service the procession will move to the Avalon Cemetery, Soweto
About the Institute:
The Institute for Security of Studies (ISS) is a pan-African organisation that undertakes applied policy research, and provides teaching and training as well as technical assistance. The Institute is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa with offices in Cape Town, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Dakar, Senegal. The ISS works for the advancement of sustainable human security in Africa. It seeks to mainstream human security perspectives into public policy processes and to influence decision makers within Africa and beyond. The objective of the Institute is to add critical balance and objectivity by providing timely, empirical research, teaching and implementation support on sustainable human security issues to policy makers, area specialists, advocacy groups, and the media.
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