Colleagues bid farewell to role model

The Loskop Ward principals and their Circuit Manager Bonisiwe Ndima bid farewell to Chothwane Primary School’s Principal Busisiwe Dube, on Friday, May 16.
A luncheon ceremony was an intimate gathering held at the luxurious Champagne Sports Valley, served to thank the recent retiree for her contribution and dedication to the education system as well as to bid her farewell and good luck for future ventures.
Mrs Dube, who has served the system for 41 years, shared that her timely retirement has afforded her the opportunity to fully and contently pursue her role as a wife and grandmother at home. Recalling the hardships she had faced as an educator and mother to a young child, who would go on leave without pay in her earlier days – as the law constituted, she imparted upon her former colleagues that they – like her, should push through all the difficult tides and never allow anyone to move them from the positions they have been appointed to, as the fruits of one’s labour are sweeter than any hardships experienced beforehand.
“I remember the time I had a child and had to go on leave without pay. Those were of the hardest times. When you retire you worry about not being able to sustain your life, but it is great where you’re going. Don’t allow anyone to grapple or swindle you out of the very position that God has placed you in- hold on, don’t leave,” shared Mrs Dube.
She then advanced to thanking her husband, who was seated next to her, for being there with and for her through all the hardships they faced.
On behalf of the Department of Education (DOE) Ms Ndima thanked Mrs Dube for her allegiance to the department, affording her a whole host of compliments for her work, gravitas as well as being a mother figure to her- recollecting the time she’d first come to Estcourt, and the advice she received from Dube.
“Ma’am Dube was one of the people, who when I first came here, advised me to be free and confident… I’ve realised that she was like a mother to me as there were a lot of situations I’ve come across along the way and she was there for me,” said Ndima.
She continued to share that Mrs Dube played the role of a mother at school as well, comparing her to cement, saying when things would fall apart, Mrs Dube would mend them.