Requiem: Jeffrey Motlhatlhedi Makgolo

Jeff's sons: Kelesitse and Olorato comforting each other during the burial of their father at Ditlharapa in Borolong
Jeff's sons: Kelesitse and Olorato comforting each other during the burial of their father at Ditlharapa in Borolong

No single person looks forward to writing a eulogy about a loved one. But then again, no one can write an obituary about a stranger. It often is our wish that our friends and relatives can eulogise us because we cannot fathom the pain of coping once they have departed.

But I have been strengthened to eulogise my friend who became a younger brother in the last decade or longer that I have known him. My strength came from directing the funeral proceedings at Ditlharapa, Jeffrey’s birthplace and seeing the unmatched courage of his 16-year old son, Kelesitse relating the life of his father and close buddy to us all. Kelesitse outdid himself. Those that did not know his father got a clear glimpse of him from the narrative and yes, Kelesitse painted a picture of the tragic scene at Lake Ngami in vivid details that fateful Sunday, when three men aboard a fibreglass canoe drowned. Without any written notes in hand, Kelesitse grabbed the attention of us all and sent everyone sobbing when he concluded his 20-minute dedication:

“I walked into the waters to identify the body of an unknown man retrieved from the lake by a fisherman. In the boat, there lay the lifeless body of my father. I administered CPR; there was no sign of life. I got angry at mom and I said things I should have not said. I want to stand here today and profusely apologise to mommy. I was angry at the fisherman for bringing my father’s body to the shore so late for CPR to work. I was angry at the rescue team that took forever to arrive from Maun. I was angry and confused. But I want to tell you today that my father indeed bid me goodbye and I bade him farewell. We both may have not understood what that meant at the time, but Ntate o re laetse. Everything happened in an hour after dad said goodbye. I have not cried since the tragedy,” Kelesitse chronicled the events of Sunday, November 2, 2014.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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