The Ikageng community mourns the passing of the loving, strong and confident Itumeleng Rachel Leballo (44).
Itumeleng was born without arms but never considered herself as disabled. Instead, she saw herself as a differently-abled person who could do anything and everything she set her mind to. She, unfortunately, succumbed to kidney failure on Saturday, 15 August.
Mmnimang Leballo (56), Itumeleng’s elder sister, says she was a fighter and fought until the last second. She even won the battle against Covid-19 recently.
Itumeleng was admitted to Mediclinic on 23 July and diagnosed with Covid-19. She experienced problems with her kidneys. According to Mmnimang, she recovered while in hospital but still fought the battle with her urinary organs. Mmnimang received the call from the hospital on Saturday evening. “When I got to the hospital, I burst into tears. I never expected it. It was hard to accept and it still is,” she said.
She hoped to see Itumeleng grow into the woman she dreamed of becoming but, she says, when God had called His children, as difficult as it is, we need to accept it.
Itumeleng was an outspoken, friendly and bubbly person who made friends everywhere she went.
Itumleng’s childhood friend, Queen Makokoe’s face lights up when she thinks about her friend. Fearless, confident, adventurous, courageous and forever smiling are terms with which Queen describes her. She says Itumeleng loved travelling, even alone, without fear or doubt of what lay ahead. “When Tumi arrived at her destination, everyone she met became her family and everyone was happy around her,” says Queen. Even strangers she’d meet along the way would end up being her friends.
She was always neat and tidy. Queen says she used to bath herself, apply her makeup, clean her room and tidy it up if messy. She never wanted anything out of place. She did all this with the use of her feet and mouth.
Itumeleng was an admin clerk at the Ikageng police station and used her feet and mouth to write and type. Since her school days, she used to write with her feet. Thinking back, Mmnimang smiles as she recalls how overjoyed her sister was when she perfected using her mouth to write and type.
Sandile Leballo, Itumeleng’s nephew, was heartbroken when he heard about his aunt’s passing. He and Itumeleng had a brother-sister relationship and would do many activities together, like shopping and having fun with friends. They had a close bond.
From the deepest part of their hearts, the family thanks the community and all those who encountered her, for helping and treating her with kindness and care. Whenever Itumeleng needed help, she would ask people to assist her with almost everything; not once, was she ever turned away or taken advantage of. For that and more, the family is eternally thankful.
