Yusuf ‘Joe’ Emeran leaves society with a strong legacy of leadership and service

YUSUF ‘‘Joe’’ Emeran, a former president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce during the World Cup year of 2010, has died at the age of 76.

Emeran matriculated at Trafalgar High School and obtained a diploma in intellectual property law at the City of London Polytechnic during his years of exile in the UK. He returned to South Africa in 1994 and served on the Small Business Council and the Provincial Tender Board.

He was chairman of Clotex, an NGO for small and medium enterprises in the clothing industry. In 2001, he was appointed as deputy chairman of the Overberg Water Board by the Minister of Water Affairs, and later became chairman. In 1997, he was vicepresident-elect of Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He chaired chamber committees and in 2009, was elected president.

In 2004, he became Honorary Consul for the Royal Kingdom of Morocco.

Emeran represented the chamber on the board of the Cape Town Partnership, the public and private sector organisation which provides intensive management for the city centre. He was involved in many community projects.

He was a strong believer in the role of the chamber as a sounding board for government at local and provincial levels, and as an active participant in the International Chamber movement.

Janine Myburgh, president of the chamber, said: “Joe’s demise is not only a loss for the chamber, which he served in many capacities, as well as holding the highest office as the president in 2010, but also for society as a whole.

“He was selfless in his time and commitment to assist others – which he did continuously over many years. I will always remember Joe as feisty; he would stand up for what he believed in. He was a man of true conviction.”

Michael Bagraim, who succeeded Emeran as president, said he had learnt a lot from his predecessor. “He always made time to sit down and talk through issues with me. We had a warm relationship. He was a real mensch.”