Jan was born in South Africa in 1953 after his parents arrived in the country after World War 2 having served in the Middle East. He has retired from the University of Cape Town where he was professor in the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law. He is married to Louise van Riet and lives in McGregor, South Africa. His short story 'My Father’s Map' about the recovery of family silver, where some names have been changed, can be accessed via the web icon below.