The KwaZulu-Natal legal fraternity was shocked yesterday to hear of the sudden death of Frans van der Merwe, director of the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society.

A report in The Mercury says Van der Merwe, who had served the law society for 32 years at the time of his death, died unexpectedly after undergoing an operation at Medi-Clinic Hospital in Pietermaritzburg on Friday. Van der Merwe had been due to retire from the Law Society in January, 2007. KwaZulu-Natal Law Society President Raj Badal said the society had lost a valuable member.
http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3299935