† 11 April 1969 – 14 July 2025 †
“She was bubbly, possessed a sharp sense of humour, embodied a spirited zest for life and loved fiercely.”
This is how family, friends and colleagues of Lieza Pannewitz remembered her at a celebration-of-life service held in her honour at the Helderberg Dutch Reformed church on Saturday (26 July). The 56-year-old died at Mediclinic Vergelegen following a brief illness on Monday 14 July.
Her children, Liseke and Nicholas, lovingly refer to her as a “lioness who was always there to protect her cubs”.
“She was our anchor, our confidant, our motivator and our safe place; in her we always found safety. She was always there, no matter the circumstances. She was selfless, caring and hardworking. She had a zest for life, a bubbly personality and a sharp sense of humour, which describes who our mom was to a tee,”
said Liseke.
At the time of her passing she was employed as a key account manager at DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, overseeing key clients such as Food Lover’s Market, Morkel & De Villiers, Samsung, Stodels and Crazy Plastics, among others.
Born in Johannesburg, the youngest of five children to Philip and Elise Versfeld, Lieza grew up in the City of Gold and briefly lived in Stellenbosch before the start of her primary school career. She attended Randburg High School before the family’s relocation to the Cape, more specifically the Helderberg, after her matric year.
She obtained a diploma from Isa Carstens Academy in Stellenbosch, then went on to complete a business diploma at the then Cape Technikon.
With her outgoing personality Lieza comfortably fit into the role of sales representative at various businesses in and around Cape Town, effortlessly and diligently serving clients as a member of the sales departments of Panasonic and Office National before taking a leap and starting her own business.
Towards the end of 2014 she joined the sales team at DistrictMail, quickly cementing her place as a force to be reckoned with in the local print-media industry.
“Lieza was a ray of sunshine in the office. She radiated light and brought barrels of laughs to every room she entered. She went above and beyond all requirements to serve her clients with diligence and determination.
said Tasmin Cupido, editorial publisher of DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette.
“In the nearly 11 years as part of our team she was one of our star performers, constantly exceeding expectations and claiming several regional awards along the way,”
She will be remembered for the relationships she forged and nurtured with clients and colleagues alike, Cupido added. “She had a never-say-die attitude and conquered challenges head-on. Lieza exuded friendliness and professionalism, her wit and humour sparkled, her laughter was infectious and her determination and courage were endless. She will be greatly missed and always be remembered by every member of the team.”
The publication’s sales manager, Muhammad Brinkhuis, remembered Lieza as an energetic and enthusiastic salesperson, who was often the glue of the sales team – a constant and reassuring presence.
“Her relentlessness was a driving force that often encouraged her colleagues to push harder in tough times. This persistence shone through in both her professional and personal life, more so during her brief illness, when she truly fought valiantly,”
said Brinkhuis.
Liseke described her mother as “resilient, strong, and a true fighter”. “She was the strongest person I knew, maintaining her sense of humour right to the end, keeping her spirits up and fighting the good fight with God by her side. She truly is my hero.”
Lieza leaves behind a remarkable legacy, along with her two children, sister and three brothers, as well as her beloved cat Pixie and two Yorkies, Charlie and Oliver.
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