Baartjes, who served SAFA diligently in various capacities, passed on last week after a long battle with cancer. SAFA Cape Town has postponed all football fixtures scheduled for Saturday, 12 September 2009 in his honour.
SAFA Cape Town regional executive members have urged all footballers to attend the funeral; they described Baartjes as a true son of the soil, a hero of the struggle for a non-racial, non-sexist, religiously tolerant, democratic society and a true football icon.
Besides being an honourary life member of SAFA, Baartjes served the association as a member of the finance and remunerations committees, and also served as a member of the colours and awards committee, which was responsible for the inaugural SAFA awards that resulted in players, coaches, administrators, referees and SAFA regions being honoured at a gala dinner in Johannesburg.
