By More Matshediso
Pretoria – In keeping with the spirit of a man who has been largely described as humble and good natured, so is the mood at the Tshwane Events Centre, where hundreds have gathered to remember the understated political trailblazer that was Collins Ohm Chabane.
The hall is packed to the rafters with dignitaries -- including Ministers Aaron Motsoaledi, Malusi Gigaba , Edna Molewa and Faith Muthambi; VIPs including Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Graca Machel and Bridgette Radebe – and ordinary South Africans in arguably equal measure, which is testament to how revered Minister Chabane was by those he worked with and those he served with the same level of integrity and honour.
The Minister passed away on Sunday, 15 March with two of his protectors – Sergeants Lesiba Sekele and Lawrence Lentsoane – in a crash on the N1 in Limpopo.
Today’s official memorial is an opportunity for those who knew and loved the Minister to remember him in a manner befitting a man who had given his life, from the age of 17, to fight for equal rights for all.
Thandi Mandhlazi, 20, who comes from the same village where the Minister grew up, came to pay her respects to Minister Chabane.
Mandhlazi’s father grew up with Minister Chabane in Xikundu village in Limpopo.
“His home was just three houses away from my home. My father and the Minister use to play together growing up,” said Mandhlazi.
She remembers the Minister as a quiet person, who loved having people around when he went back to the village over the holidays.
“Whenever he was around, people would go to his home to hang out and socialise. Everyone would go - whether you have a job or not, you were welcome. He was a people’s person,” she said.
She said her heart was broken when her mother broke the news of Minister Chabane’s passing to her.
“I could not believe it because he [Minister Chabane] and my mom attended the same funeral of the chief in Mangana the day before his passing. I was hurt to hear that he was gone,” said Mandhlazi.
Paul Magomani, 49, a relative of the Minister, reminisced over days gone by when the Minister was still a student.
“He was a bit older than me. He was a brother to me. He used to sit us down whenever he came home for the holidays from college. He would teach us about politics and how Nelson Mandela was arrested, although sometimes we did not understand what he was talking about. He was [very] clever.
“We were very close. I did not believe he was [gone] until I saw the story on the news. I am still hurting,” said Magomani.
Minister Chabane will be laid to rest in an official funeral, category one, on Saturday in Xikundu.
*Click here to view our online tribute to Minister Chabane. - SAnews.gov.za
