At 79, Pieter-Dirk Uys is proving that age is no barrier to laughter, love, or fearless living. Retirement isn’t the final chapter; for Uys, it’s the start of a life brimming with purpose, humour, and boundless courage.
Western Cape, South Africa (07 November 2024) – In South Africa, stories about embracing retirement with courage, wisdom, and wit bring hope and inspiration to many moving into this chapter of life. One of these stories comes from the legendary Pieter-Dirk Uys, who recently sat down for a candid conversation.
Known for his quick wit and fearless spirit, Uys shares insights on ageing, love, and using laughter to transform fears—a message that resonates deeply with listeners of all ages.
For decades, Pieter-Dirk Uys has stood out as one of South Africa’s most influential cultural figures. Through satire and the unforgettable character Evita Bezuidenhout, Uys broke boundaries in the theatre, using humour as his chosen weapon against ignorance and fear. During the apartheid era, his sharp critiques and hilarious impersonations exposed the absurdities of oppression, making him a powerful voice for change. Evita Bezuidenhout, his fictional Afrikaner socialite, became a household name and later a celebrated symbol of unity in post-apartheid South Africa.
Now, Pieter-Dirk remains active in the arts, using his platform to address social issues, perform, and, most recently, inspire a new perspective on ageing.
On The Rocktirement Podcast, he explains the role of humour in his life, saying, “Humour isn’t just about jokes. It’s about facing fear head-on and laughing at it so it becomes less intimidating. Fear is never taller than you; it only grows if you look away from it.”
At 79, Uys reflects on the simplicity that comes with age: “My year used to be 365 days, but now it’s just two – today and tomorrow. That’s all that matters now. If one’s baskets are full today, there is no need to worry about the future.”
Uys also shares personal insights into his relationship, saying, “I’m blessed to be married to a man 22 years younger than me. It means I’m 22 years younger than I really am!”
His joyful outlook on love and partnership shines through, reminding us that love knows no bounds, not even age. His words capture a delightful sense of contentment and highlight the positive impact of companionship in shaping a vibrant life in one’s later years.
Beyond the laughs, Pieter-Dirk’s legacy is one of compassion. During the HIV/AIDS crisis, he turned his fear into advocacy, travelling across South Africa to deliver honest, humour-filled messages to schools and communities. His candid approach broke stigmas and spread vital awareness, reaching millions.
“When HIV/AIDS came, I feared it deeply. But I took that fear and turned it into advocacy. I spoke to millions of kids, saying what no one else wanted to say,” he recalls, reinforcing his dedication to tackling difficult subjects with empathy and strength.
In a society that often marginalises older voices, Pieter-Dirk Uys champions the value of wisdom accumulated over the years.
“We ignore the wisdom of older people at our own peril. There’s a treasure trove of experience in ageing that young people must not overlook,” he states, urging a re-evaluation of the role seniors play in shaping our world.
The podcast, hosted by Gidon Novick, a visionary known for his role in founding South Africa’s first low-cost airline, Kulula, and more recently, LIFT Airline, brings icons like Uys to the forefront.
Novick, a Non-Executive Director at Circle Senior Living, explains, “I found Pieter-Dirk’s philosophy around life and how humour can be such a powerful weapon to disarm and change mindsets so inspiring…Pieter-Dirk is still living with purpose and joie de vivre in his later years.”
Novick and his team aim to dismantle outdated stereotypes and offer a fresh perspective on retirement.
Pieter-Dirk’s story reminds us all to embrace life fully—at any age—with humour, courage, and boundless love. His journey proves that ageing isn’t something to be feared but celebrated, lighting the way for us to live our own lives with joy and purpose.
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