We woke up on Saturday mourning, precisely some of our members who worked with Rre Bahiti Temane as a co-workers, a dedicated BCSA (now BOPEU) leader, a committed member whose deeds later earned him a cabinet position during the Masire – Mogae regime. Yes indeed his death leaves an immense void. Again we are reminded by the famous Afro-American writer Maya Angelo, that “when great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, and sterile. We breathe, briefly. Our eyes briefly see with a hurtful clarity”. We are all shaken by this sad news.
His departure on Friday 27th June 2015 comes within five months after gracing a Union activity in his honour and that of several leaders; our forefathers who bequeathed us the modern BOPEU. Rre Temane was the Secretary General (SG) of BCSA at the formative stage of the Association. As the Secretary General, he served with Rre GA.T Gare and Rre G. Matenge both of whom we are told stirred the organisation very well during their tenure. It would be sad not to recognise that the majority of organisational rights, some of which we enjoyed for close to 30 years, were negotiated by these leaders. Again, as the then SG, a special tribute to him would be quite fitting.
