The funeral of Kgoshi Makatikele Andries Malatji was held at the royal kraal in Makhushane on Saturday, May 15.
The community of Baphalaborwa together with various stakeholders including the Limpopo government represented by different MEC’s and mayors were also present to say their last goodbyes.
Cogsta’s MEC, Basikopo Makamu, described Kgoshi Malatji as an agent of development and that “his legacy will live long after his passing”.
Makamu mentioned that Kgoshi Malatji was actively involved in many economic development projects, which alleviated poverty and upgraded the standard of living of the community of Makhushane.
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Among the community development legacy projects that Kgoshi Malatji and the traditional council were involved in, include:
• Eighteen day-care centres, four Drop-In centres, two disability centres and two old-age disability centres.
• Community projects such as a community crèche, community bakery, irrigation schemes and ten clinics.
• RDP houses.
• Provision of food parcels to a thousand households at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Annual awards in the form of cash for the best performing schools during Heritage Day.
• Two villages, Boelang and Makhushane Camp established under his watch.
“Kgoshi Malatji leaves a great legacy that is there for all to see and to emulate,” Makamu added.
The Mopani District Municipality executive mayor, Pule Shayi, also hailed the late Kgoshi as a unifier and said that Kgoshi’s works preceded him.
Shayi mentioned that the late Kgoshi played an instrumental role in strengthening the working relationship between the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality and the Ba-Phalaborwa traditional leaders and its people.
Kgoshi Malesela Dikgale whilst paying his tribute on behalf of CONTRALESA and Limpopo House of Traditional leaders described the late Kgoshi as a selfless leader who was dedicated to changing people’s lives.
The Kgoshi was formally known as Kgoshi Makhushane the Third and reigned as a traditional leader of Ba-Phalaborwa, Makhushane from 1998.
Photos: Ba-phalaborwa Local Municipality’s Facebook page.
