A dignified farewell
THANKS to the broadcast by Energy FM and the ensuing generosity of listeners, a family from Nobody village, Mankweng, was able to give a beloved member of their family the dignified funeral she deserved.
Maseo Nethanani
LIMPOPO – THANKS to the broadcast by Energy FM and the ensuing generosity of listeners, a family from Nobody village, Mankweng, was able to give a beloved member of their family the dignified funeral she deserved.
A large group of family friends, residents and relatives filled Podile Cemetery in Ga-Mothapo village, Mankweng on Saturday for the funeral service of Gloria Sebasa (43), a funeral which would not have been able to go ahead were it not for the timely assistance of those involved.
Energy FM station manager, Bothwell ‘BK’ Matewe said the station became involved when Sebasa’s sister, Agnes Mashishi of Nobody village tweeted Energy FM’s Ashifa Breakfast Show for possible assistance in laying her sister to rest. Mashishi said no one in the family was employed, and they had no idea how they would be able to have a funeral and bury her.
Matewe said the station decided to intervene. “We broadcasted her predicament on the Ashifa Breakfast Show and in so doing, gave the Mashishi’s the chance of having a decent funeral for their beloved family member,” Matewe explained.
“We can’t just be all about good music. We were encouraged and humbled by the spirit of giving displayed by the listeners who responded overwhelmingly when we broadcasted this family’s plight. We are grateful and delighted by the overwhelming support we got from our listeners in helping the family,” Matewe said.
Shonisani ‘Ashifashabba’ Muleya, the host of the Ashifa Breakfast Show, said Energy FM was redefining what being a community radio station was all about. “When you are in touch with the needs of the community you serve, it is easy to respond to such calls,” he said.
Those who contributed included Pietersburg Funeral Supplies (coffin and hearse), the EFF Limpopo (groceries worth R3 000), Lilithalethu Trading, a construction company owned by Silas Ledwaba (R3 000), the Seshego, Polokwane and Mankweng taxi associations (five taxis to provide transport for mourners), Limpo Security (tents and chairs) and general listeners who donated cash and groceries. All donations received totalled over R50 000.
The family’s spokesperson, Matjatji Malema, said the family was overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and he expressed the family’s gratitude. Malema said the death of Sebasa was a great loss to the family.
“We were not expecting her to die so soon. We don’t know what we are going to do without her. She was a good woman who always had a smile for everyone,” Malema concluded.
