Evelyn Makhura Machete: Motlhabaneng Icon Laid To Rest At 109
Staff Writer | Monday February 11, 2019 14:01
She was the daughter to David Makhura and Mokgadi Makhura, who belonged to the royal family of the Babirwa tribe.
Her family were the first descendants to Motlhabaneng who played a pivotal role in the growth of the village that was a settlement before. In 1986, Motlhabaneng was gazetted to being called a village.
Evelyn Machete started working in South Africa and met her Husband Lucas Machete there who later came back to Botswana to become a chief to the South Africans living in Bobonong (Mabeleng Ward).
In the village she was an exemplary farmer who guided many in growing the village’s agricultural sector. She often could lend her ploughing field to uproot other aspiring farmers who did not have land to plough.
At her funeral, many speakers stressed that she mentored the community well. Being one of the oldest person in Bobirwa, other village elders be it; councillors, headmen, dikgosi often sought advice and guidance in terms of their history and any other aspects of concerns in their respective areas.
Former Bobirwa chief, Mmirwa Malema being the brother to Evelyn Machete spoke at length that the people of Motlhabaneng should continue emulating the tradition of humility in the village. He continued to stress that Mrs Machete contributed a lot to the community and others should learn from her to instill the spirit of giving amongst the community.
She had landmarks named after her like “Lediba la Mma Sophia” which sits along the Motloutse river and is the first scenery you see when entering the Motlhabaneng village.
Our icon being a mother and a grandmother to five generations. She leaves behind seven children and one of them, Bethuel Machete, is the current chief of Motlhabaneng. She leaves behind 34 grand children and 67 great grandchildren.
Evelyn Machete was laid to rest last on Saturday at Motlhabaneng village Kgotla near her husband’s grave who was buried in 1973.