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Professor Heinz Prekel, the man who spearheaded South Africa’s transition from imperial to metric measurement, gave up the ghost in his home on Thursday, aged 89 years.
Prof. Prekel played a major role in converting South Africa’s furlongs per fortnight into grams, meters, and litres.
Reports from the Afrikaans newspaper
Rapport indicated that Prekel died due to complications from a fall while having his wife Truida (82) by his side.
South Africa’s transition to the metric system occurred after the replacement of the British imperial pounds, farthings, and shillings with the decimal-based rands and cents.
The metrication of South Africa is considered amongst the most successful in the world, according to reports.
Prekel wrote his autobiography last year, according to reports from Rapport.
Prof Heinz Prekel is the father of the metric system in South Africa
Prekel, a physicist, was born to German immigrants who moved to South Africa in search of greener pastures and a better future.
When he turned six in 1939, he made a trip with his parents to Germany for a visit. While they were on their visit, the Second World War broke out, and they were unable to return to South Africa until the latter months of 1950.
Prekel revealed that they frequently went starving during the war. He also revealed that he was forced to join the Hitler Youth organisation by force—and he hated it.
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Prekel wrote: “I abhorred it—the attempts to brainwash us.” “No independent thought was tolerated.”
When he returned to South Africa, he did not have a matric and joined Iscor to become an artisan. He wrote that he was fortunate enough to obtain a doctorate in physics from the University of Pretoria.
He attended Unisa’s school of business leadership after completing his work on South Africa’s metrication. He then went on to lecture at various universities around the world.
Prekel contacted the Corona virus in August and got cured of it.
He then suffered a fall in late September, during which he received emergency brain surgery. He spent six weeks in the hospital.
However, he was at home in the last two weeks, where he was taken care of by his wife, Truida, and two other carers. He is survived by Lu-Marie Sobey, his stepdaughter, who lives in Australia.
