Franklin Sonn

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Franklin Sonn
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Tipper Gore presented lily by Franklin Sonn.jpg
Sonn, right, presenting "Tipper", a Star of Bethlehem lily, to second lady of the United States Tipper Gore in 1997
Born
Franklin Abraham Sonn

(1939-10-11) 11 October 1939 (age 85)
Vosburg, South Africa
Occupation(s)Educator, diplomat, businessman
Known forSouth Africa's first democratic ambassador to the United States
SpouseJoan Heather Gelderbloem
Children2, including Crispin and Heather

Franklin Abraham Sonn (born 11 October 1939) is a South African educator, diplomat, and businessman who played a significant role in the country's transition from apartheid to democracy. He was South Africa's first ambassador to the United States under a democratic government, serving from 1995 to 1999. [1] Sonn has also held leadership positions in education, business, and civil society, and has been recognized for his contributions to justice, education, and economic empowerment. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Sonn was born in Vosburg in the Karoo, and raised in Queenstown and Cape Town. His parents were both educators. [1] He earned a teacher's diploma, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Africa, and a BA Honours from the University of the Western Cape. He also studied at the Aspen Institute in the United States.

Career in education

Sonn began as a teacher and became principal of Spes Bona High School in Athlone in 1974. [1] In 1978, he was appointed rector of Peninsula Technikon in Cape Town, a post he held until 1994. [1] He also served as president of the Cape Teachers' Association and chaired the Committee of Technikon Principals. Sonn contributed to commissions of inquiry into education and chaired a ministerial working group to establish a single distance learning institution in South Africa. [2] He served as chancellor of the University of the Free State from 2002 to 2009. [3]

Political and diplomatic career

Sonn has a longstanding history of community activism, [2] and despite not having been a member of the ANC while it was banned during Apartheid, he led marches alongside Archbishop Desmond Tutu and during Nelson Mandela's imprisonment, Sonn maintained correspondence with him through regular letter exchanges. [4] He led the ANC campaign in the Western Cape region in the 1994 election. [2] In 1992, Sonn served on Jimmy Carter's team to monitor the elections in Zambia. [1] In 1995, President Nelson Mandela appointed Sonn as South Africa's ambassador to the United States, making him the first black South African ambassador to the United States. [4] He served until 1999, working to strengthen bilateral relations and represent the new democratic South Africa. [1] He published an autobiography, Karooseun van Vosburg, in 2024 [5]

Business leadership

Sonn co-founded New Africa Investments Limited (NAIL), a major black-led company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. [1] He has served on the boards of ABSA Group, Sappi, Steinhoff International, Pioneer Foods, and Macsteel Holdings. He has also served as non-executive director for MTN Group and Nedbank, [6] and was chairman of the Airports Company of South Africa and African Star Ventures. [2]

Honors and recognition

He was awarded the Order of the Baobab in Silver for his contributions to education and justice. [1] He also received the Order of the Disa, and the Dr Martin Luther King Award for International Service for Peace. [2] [6] Sonn has received twelve honorary doctorates [3] from institutions such as Howard University, [1] Baruch College of the City University of New York, [1] the University of Cape Town [2] and Medunsa. [2]

Personal life

Sonn is married to Joan Heather Gelderbloem. They have two children, Crispin and Heather. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Franklin Sonn (1939 - ) | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Franklin Sonn 2005". Nelson Mandela University. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 Loader, Lacea (1 June 2010). "UFS bids Dr Franklin Sonn farewell". University of the Free State Website. Archived from the original on 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 Haywood, Richette L. (December 1995). "The South African Revolution Comes To America". Ebony. pp. 70–76. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  5. ↑ Sonn, Franklin (2024). Karooseun van Vosburg. Protea Boekhuis. ISBN   9781485315667.
  6. 1 2 Kotze, Mayor Dirk. "Mayor Dirk Kotze". Mayor Dirk Kotze. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
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