19/06/2026
Julian Jansen, the well-known journalist and author of, among other works, the book Sons Without Fathers, movingly shared his own life story with the residents of Loaves and Fishes on Thursday evening (18 June). Jansen's father, "Donnie," had himself ended up in Loaves and Fishes' care decades ago, as Loaves' chief executive officer, Ben Kotzé, explained to the audience beforehand.
Jansen's father later died tragically — but not before his son was able to find a measure of closure through a hospital visit to the man who had been both hero and enemy to him.
Jansen's central message was one of forgiveness, and his talk prompted intense participation. Men and women alike took turns sharing from the floor about the pain that absent fathers — whether physically or emotionally absent — cause their children. Jansen (61) lives in Strand. The former teacher spent many years as a journalist at Rapport and remains involved there on a freelance basis. He is also the author of true-crime books such as Murder in Stellenbosch — Two Decades of Shocking Stories and On the Trail of the Station Murderer. He is married to Cecelia, who also attended the evening.
