He had the vision to start local production, and expand into Africa : Obituary: Dietmar Theilig - Boehme Africa (now DyStar Africa) (12/05/1938-30/11/2023)

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA – It is with sadness that we learnt of the passing of Dietmar Theilig, the former Managing Director of Boehme Africa.

I met Dietmar 35 years ago when I was headhunted and appointed as a leather technician. At the time, Boehme Africa was a major role player in the textile and leather industries in Southern Africa.

Dietmar had the vision and foresight to extend the business into Africa as well as Mauritius and Madagascar. He was instrumental in building the current production plant in Pietermaritzburg, which is the current DyStar Africa manufacturing plant, incorporating leather auxiliaries.

Throughout his business career, Dietmar was supported by the Boehme family, who were the owners at the time, with their head office in Geretsried, Germany. He was a brilliant businessman, and he was also well liked and respected and certainly left his legacy in these industries.

Dietmar will certainly be remembered for his personal interaction with all the business owners and their families.

Dietmar was a very keen hunter and enjoyed hunting safaris. He was a wine connoisseur of note.

A true family man, he had two sons, Giro and Guido with his first wife, Renate. After her passing, he married Liz, and they had 24 happy years together.

During his retirement, he settled in Durbanville, in the Cape.

Dietmar passed way at the age of 85. On behalf of the textile and leather industries we salute you. Rest well, where clouds no longer appear.