Friends, family bid comrade Maila farewell
Family, friends and colleagues said their final goodbyes and paid tributes to National Health Spokesperson, Joe Maila (48) during his memorial service yesterday (Wednesday).
POLOKWANE – Maila died after an incident at a shooting range in Silverton, last Thursday evening at around 18:00. Police Spokesperson, Lungelo Dlamini, said: “Police opened an inquest and the circumstances surrounding the death will form part of the investigation.”
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The family said they had met with the police and took ‘comfort that the matter is receiving attention’. Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, expressed his deep sadness at the death of Maila.
Maila had worked in the government communication field in Limpopo for many years and his family still lives in Polokwane. He first worked as a Communication Officer for the Department of Labour. He later became the Spokesperson for the Department of Health in Limpopo before moving to the Department of Safety‚ Security and Liaison. He had served as a Spokesperson for the National Department of Health since May 2012.
The family in a statement said that, while Maila’s death had brought pain to the family, “We draw strength from the countless messages we received.
“The family expresses its sincere appreciation and gratitude for all the messages and support during this difficult time, as they come to terms with this painful loss”. Maila is survived by his wife and two children.
Motsoaledi described his former spokesperson as a hard worker who got on well with everyone. He added in the seven years he worked with Maila, he had not received a single complaint about his conduct. Former MEC for Health, Dikeledi Magadzi, said: “He was a man of God. It’s still like a dream to me. He was ever-smiling, and while not a ‘fashionista’ he was always well-dressed and neat. He loved talking politics and analysing the current situation. He was an astute writer and I never changed his speeches he wrote for me. He could sense what I wanted to say and was always well-informed about issues. Every day at 06:00 he would send me a message from the Bible. His last message sent to me was from Habakuk and Proverbs. It is such a loss!”
“Maila practised his craft with passion and this trait saw him grow from strength to strength as he served across various government departments over the years,” Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Communications, said.
“In his daily work, he always viewed the media as a partner to address the health challenges. He contributed to creating an informed citizenry,” Kubayi-Ngubane said, adding Maila upheld the principles and ethics of the communication profession.
Locally his former colleagues from the Department of Health and the health fraternity felt they were left poorer without Maila. “Staff morale is low following the passing of Joe Maila,” Derick Kganyago, Spokesperson for the Department said. “Bra Joe (as he was affectionately known) was a seasoned spokesperson. He was a naturally calm person and very highly spiritual. Bra Joe never regarded himself as a high profile person but as a public servant. Those who worked with him can attest. Farewell brother,” Kganyago said. Maila’s funeral will be at Potters House Christian Church in Ivy Park on Saturday. The service will start at 07:00.
