ISS Peace Missions Programme Head Tragically Dies at age 54
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Institute is sad to announce the passing away of the head of our Peace Missions Program, Mr Henri Boshoff. Bossie was killed in a fatal car accident early on Monday morning 25th April in Pretoria and is survived by his wife, Leonie, and son, Jean. We extend to them our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies.
Henri Boshoff was born in Pretoria on 12 April 1957. He attended school in Pretoria after which he completed a four year diploma in education at the University of Pretoria in 1979. After national military service he taught in Pretoria until 1986 when he joined the South African Defence Force, eventually reaching the rank of lt. col. He also obtained an Honours Degree in African Politics in 1995 and later while at the ISS, a Masters degree. He left the SANDF at the end of 2001 to join the Institute for Security Studies as military analyst for the Africa Security Analysis Programme with a specific focus on the Great Lakes Region.
On 1 April 2009 he was appointed as Head of the Peace Missions Programme with particular responsibility for the Norwegian funded Training for Peace project. In this capacity he provided training to several hundred soldiers, policemen and women and civilians deployed on peace missions in Africa and beyond. Bossie also presented numerous papers at conferences and seminars and was a regular commentator on local and international radio and television. He regularly lectured on security issues and has published, edited and contributed to a large number of journals, books and other publications. While at the Institute Bossie earned a well-established international reputation on his subject matter and travelled indefatigably on behalf of the ISS based on his areas of expertise in terrorism, peacekeeping, support to the police and African politics.
Beyond the dedicated service to the Institute, Bossie served the South African Police Service in various capacities, most lately as chairperson of the Brooklyn Community Policing Forum where he provided ongoing advice, support, and resources to all staff at the station. Few police stations can boast the support of a chairperson who would literally phone the station commander on a daily basis to offer support, hosting meetings and provide luncheons and presents over Christmas. And as a staunch supporter of the Blue Bulls, rugby was in his blood from the days as referee and as more than a participant - claiming to have missed less than 10 home games since 1967.
Bossie was a friend and colleague who will be sorely missed at the Institute, in the wider community and most sorely, by his family. He touched the lives of many.
Dr. Jakkie Cilliers
Executive Director, ISS
About the Institute:
The Institute for Security of Studies (ISS) is a pan-African organization that undertakes applied policy research, provides teaching and training as well as technical assistance. The Institute is head quartered 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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