Michael Kitso Dingake – A humanist passes on

Friday, April 12, 2024 | 20 Views |

Remembered: Michael Dingake (right), with the author during a chance meeting in Onsolsvic, northern Sweden in 1987. Dingake was on a speaking tour following the publication of his first book, My Fight Against Aparheid (Kliptown Books)

My good old friend, Michael Kitso Dingake, departed this world this past Sunday in his hospital bed in Gaborone. He was 96. The immediate cause was complications arising from a stroke resulting in vein blockage.

Only last year February, his nephew, Martin Dingake and his wife, Dikeledi had hosted family, friends and well-wishers at their farm outside Thamaga along the Molepolole road.

The occasion was the celebration of his 95th birthday. Dingake is well-known for his struggle credentials, especially his exploits in Apartheid South Africa, where he had joined the African National Congress (ANC) as a youth activist back in 1952. ‘Bra Mike’, as he was popularly known, was born in Bobonong, the son of peasants – his father Kitso, who died overseas fighting Hitler’s war – and mother Sekoro – who he was very fond of. His parents were strong believers in education.

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