Marlie Coetzee (Photo: Michele Cilliers/Lens Art Photography)
Marlie Coetzee, executive director of the Virtual Institute for Afrikaans (VivA), is retiring from the organization after more than a decade.
“My thanks also extend to the wider Afrikaans world: the companies, organisations, managers and teams we have worked with. Afrikaans is a common project, and it has been a privilege to work with so many people who give their energy and passion to grow the language,” Coetzee told Maroela Media.
VivA said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that it is difficult to say goodbye to Coetzee after her many years of involvement with the organisation, especially the past seven and a half years as executive director.
“You didn’t just run an organization; you formed, led and inspired a team,” said VivA.
According to the organization, Coetzee also played a key role in building “a digital home for Afrikaans” and helped establish a legacy of which she “can be rightfully proud”.
“Under your guidance, we learned what it means to work with integrity, commitment and vision. Your perseverance and strategic insight made a lasting impression on all of us,” the post continued.
VivA says the transition necessarily brings change, but the organization remains committed to its goal of serving the Afrikaans community.
Earlier, during the celebration of VivA’s tenth anniversary, Coetzee said that the organization has worked tirelessly since its inception in 2015 to establish Afrikaans’ digital footprint and thus showed that the language belongs in the future.
“Afrikaans can flourish in a digital environment and this can be done with creativity, quality and dignity.
“In the last decade, we have developed one of the richest, most accessible African digital platforms, and we could not have done it without our network of supporters who worked with us. Ten years is a big milestone, but it is certainly not our final destination.”
Coetzee finishes at VivA on 30 April, and it is not yet known at this stage who will succeed her.