Joyce Andersen: My Mother, My Mentor

Joyce Anderson
Joyce Anderson

Two weeks ago, a colleague, Morongwa Phala-Goodwill, casually said: “Ausi Pam, did you hear about Mma Andersen?” I froze. “Ijoo! Please don’t tell me she is gone.” No. Not yet I later realised. Joyce Andersen, the woman I had known all my life as Ausi Joyce, had had a stroke, and within days, by Saturday, she was gone. I was numb.

I then went into a guilt trip, that of failed promises to visit her at her new place of abode, Kasane. Once in a while, I would call her, and lie through my teeth that “definitely Ausi Joyce, ntla etitaya ka thupana ke tle koo.” She knew I would not honour the promise, as, I had many times before, over decades, avoided that sit for  ‘mother-to-daughter’ talk.

Mother-to-daughter? As I stated earlier, I had known Ausi Joyce all my life. She was there when I was born some donkey years back in Mahalapye, to her friend, Margaret Onkgopotse Dube. She had shared stories of my growing life, which at times my mum neglected to.

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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