Final send-off for beloved journalist
The South African sports fraternity gathered to bid farewell to Ramatsiyi Moholoa at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Complex in Seshego on Saturday.
Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – FOR the multitudes who drove past the marquee next to the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Complex in Seshego on Saturday, they could have mistaken the event to a celebration of some sorts.
But it was the burial proceedings of the late sports journalist, Ramatsiyi Moholoa.
His death last week sent shock waves across the sports fraternity, especially among his colleagues, clubs and federations.
The South African sports fraternity gathered to bid him farewell, describing him as humble, caring towards his family and friends and passionate, ethical and dedicated to his work.
His former teacher, Billy Sebata, a Rampo Institute alumni said: “Ramatsyi was a dedicated learner who was not troublesome as a teenager and had all the indications of a better person in the future”.
Moholoa’s former teammate at Seshego Blackpool FC, Oupa Tladi, described him as a dedicated figure who was jolly and able to make friends across the board.
“Rama was fond of giving those among his circle of friends nicknames,” said Tladi.
Former Sowetan sports editor, Molifi Mika, also described Moholoa as a humble person who did not only care about his family, but about all and sundry.
“Rama was a cooperative worker who was always on high alert to cover very sporting code. He was very respectful and never undermined authority. The man was always in a jovial mood and many people were fond of him. He was where he was because he was a good researcher who was dedicated to attention to detail. He had contacts of club coaches, players, administrators, associations all over the world and supporters. It was for that reason that we frequently assigned him to international events, most importantly to the Olympics. He was a versatile reporter who knew the dynamics of sport. While other publications sent about three journalists to cover such events like the Olympics, at Sowetan we would assign Ramatsiyi to do all the writing and he would do that with great aplomb.”
Former Ria Stars boss, now a South Africa Football Association member of the national executive committee, Ria Ledwaba was justifiably in a somber disposition relating the death of a man whom she said was the first journalist to publish her in the newspaper.
Ledwaba said: “to the sports fraternity, let us not mourn Rama’s death, let’s celebrate it. The people of Seshego can bear testimony that we have lost a dedicated son of the soil”.
Moholoa’s young brother Maropeng said: “my brother’s death has left a huge vacuum in the family. He was pillar of strength in the family unit. May his soul rest in peace”.
