Farmers and family mourn death of HOD
Tributes have been pouring in for the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs's late acting head of department (HOD), Lucky Selias Monareng.
He died on September 18, at the age of 55. He was undergoing treatment in hospital after having been admitted for just over a month.
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MEC Vusi Shongwe, the current acting HOD, Godfrey Ntombela and the entire departmental staff have conveyed messages of condolences to Monareng’s family. “This is indeed a great loss, not just for the department, but the entire provincial government. Monareng was a servant of the people, a man of action, whose passion was to see change and improvement in everything he worked on. We are saddened by the news of his passing and I wish that God sees the family through this period of bereavement,” Shongwe said.
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According to a media statement, Monareng had a wealth of knowledge as a public servant spanning from 1996 when he joined the Department of Education to of late. He worked in a number of governmental departments before being appointed as a director of supply chain management in agriculture.
He was appointed as the acting HOD in 2018, a position he served with dignity until his passing. Monareng’s memorial service will be held today at 10:00 at the Church on the Hill.
A funeral service will be held at his home village in Shabalala Trust, sports ground on Saturday at 07:00.
Farmers from all over the country and beyond the borders shared tributes on the department’s Facebook page.
Dr Job Mthombeni of Kromkrans Farm in the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality: “May his soul rest in peace. What a loss. A dedicated HOD 24/7. Always available for farmers. We will always remember this man. Thanks to the family and department for sharing such a man with us.”
Patricia Ledwaba of Casteel Dam: “Words can’t even describe how I feel. HOD Lucky Selias Monareng at work. HOD Lucky Selias Monareng. We had plans to officially open the first aquaculture facility in Mpumalanga. I can still remember the excitement when you released the first stork.
When I called you to confirm if you were coming, you said, ‘I wouldn’t miss it’. It’s so unfortunate that you passed away before our first harvest, however, in my heart I will still dedicate the opening to you. Thank you so much for your support Baba Monareng. I will forever be grateful. Casteel Dam will still be my mission for fisheries in your honour.”
Sinazo Manthata of Ethiopia: “I met him last October during our educational tour to South Africa. He received us with the greatest courtesy and treated us as honoured guests. We have learned plenty of lessons for our country from his elaborate and passionate explanation about the vision of his province towards agricultural transformation. I would like to extend my condolence to his family.
