Affable Magogodi laid to rest

KARABO SENAME
Staff Writer | Friday June 25, 2010 00:00

Thousands of mourners, including the chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank of Botswana, David Cuttings, braved the chilly morning to pay their last respects to Magogodi as well as to comfort his surviving relatives.

Speakers at the funeral described Magogodi as a loving and caring person who enjoyed a good joke. 'Sdumo' or 'Stuch' as his peers affectionately referred to Magogodi, was described as someone who liked peace and always made friends wherever he went.

I personally met Sdumo during my days at Madikwe Community Junior Secondary School where I did my Junior Certificate. I became the friend of one lady who happened to be Magogodi's close cousin and she introduced me to her cousin.

Unfortunately, this cousin of Sdumo is now late. I still recall how that late friend of mine used to tell me how I reminded her of her cousin because we both liked to joke. She would tell me: 'I want you to meet my cousin'.

I eventually met the soft-spoken, cheerful and ever-smiling young man called Setumo Reki Magogodi. Upon realising that we had many things in common, we easily became friends.

Since then we became thick as thieves even though I proceeded to Kagiso Senior Secondary School in Ramotswa and Setumo went to Ledumang Senior Secondary School in Gaborone.

During that period, we did not see each other often. But every time we met during school vacations, we cherished every moment. We would share jokes and made fun of each other.

My friendship with Setumo did not just end there. After a few years without seeing each other due to work commitments, it was in December 2008 when I entered the Standard House seeking to top up my personal loan with Standard Chartered Bank. The lady at the reception led me to a waiting place and pointed at a certain cubicle where there was a man with a long, clean twisted dreadlocks who was still attending to another client.

As I approached the cubicle, I realised that the person I was about to talk to was Setumo. I was surprised to see him at the bank as the last time we had spoken he told me he was working for an insurance broker. Before I could even talk to him about what I wanted, we were happy to see each other and we started jousting.

The banter turned into an in interrogation of sorts when he asked me when was I getting married. We were making so much noise that the lady in the next cubicle complained.

On Monday when I came across a message posted by one of my friends on Facebook saying Setumo was late, also sending condolences to his family and friends, I was stunned. I could not believe it.

Rubbing salt into the wound was when, during the course of that day, I read how this young, vibrant and caring man died in a horrific accident in South Africa with two other people on their way home.

The reports were to the effect that the car they were travelling in collided with a truck and eventually caught fire which resulted in the trio being incinerated beyond recognition.

Magogodi was born 26 years ago in Mmathubudukwane. He was the first-born in his family and his twin siblings, a boy and a girl survive him. He worked for Standard Chartered Bank as a financial consultant until he met his fate. He also leaves behind his daughter who is less than a month old. May his soul rest in peace.