In November 2016, the South African television industry bade farewell to one of its most respected veterans. Barely a year into his retirement after decades of service to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Nicolaas (Nic) Bonthuys passed away.
Bonthuys first entered the industry as a broadcast engineer in the very early days of SABC television. He was then at the forefront of developments in broadcast technology in South Africa for the next 40 years, taking a leadership role in the outside broadcast division at the national broadcaster. The industry is filled with highly skilled operatives who owe their training and expertise to Nic. He stands among an entire generation of South African television professionals – several others of whom have also left us recently – who established the standards and set the best practices that have been the mainstay of broadcast operations in this country.
What one remembers most about Nic, aside from the depth of his knowledge on his chosen career, is his friendly, personable and laid-back nature. I remember my first meeting with him, when, barely two months into my job as editor of Screen Africa and not terribly knowledgeable about the broadcast technology side of the industry, I went to talk to him to gather information for an article on outside broadcast. Sitting in his office at SABC OB, over cups of tea and coffee, he patiently talked me through the evolution of the technology from the early days of six-camera rigs, broadcast via telephone lines, and machines that needed to warm up for an hour before showtime, to the new 24-camera giants, with all the modern fittings and benefits, the commissioning of which he had proudly and carefully overseen in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Every one of my interactions with him thereafter felt more like talking to an uncle than a professional contact. Although always completely authoritative on his subject, he imparted his knowledge with humility, ease and a sense of humour.
In Nic, we have lost someone important. His spirit and knowledge will be missed. But I have no doubt that, just as his personal legacy will live on in his children and grandchildren, so his professional legacy will live on in those who met, worked with and were trained by him.
Screen Africa pays tribute to Nic and our thoughts and wishes are with his family and friends.
