Late executive mayor and husband laid to rest
The premier of Mpumalanga Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said that they have lost a leader and servant of the people who were selfless.
As the sun rises from the east in the dusty city of eMalahleni people came from near and far preparing to lay down the first citizen and beloved mayor of the city together with her husband.
The couple Mrs Linah Masellane and Mr Essau Sepetlele Malatjie died in a road accident on Monday, January 3, they were coming back from an event organised by the Mpumalanga MEC of Human Settlement and the regional chairperson of the ANC Speedy Mashilo. They died on the road between KwaMhlanga and eMalahleni.
As the sun was setting in the west of the city, a motorcade led by bikers roar towards the Pretoria Memorial Park Cemetery for the red soil of the earth to swallow them. They made their vows during their marriage that death do us part and it was the death that stole the lovely couple from their loved ones.
All the speakers during the funeral held at the Puma Stadium on Sunday, January 9, described them as loving, supportive and caring persons. This came just one day after their organisation the ANC celebrated their 110th birthday celebration in Limpopo.
Mashilo said he learned a lot from the late executive mayor and he said she was passionate about education and they plan to keep her legacy by organising bursaries for learners.
In her tribute, the premier of Mpumalanga Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said that they have lost a leader and servant of the people who were selfless.
“She was and advocated and lobbied for the private sector to provide bursaries both in eMalahleni and in the Nkangala District. She moulded a lot of people as a teacher and her track record has proven that she provided a lot of bursaries to deserving students. As an activist, she worked very hard to better the lives of people in the municipality. The couple accommodated a lot of people with open arms into their house.”
The premier also said to keep her legacy an academic hospital is to be built and a mall will be named after Linah Malatjie.
Gwede Mantashe, Chairperson of the ANC and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources said that the late mayor was a strong leader and it will be hard to replace her. He remembers her as a person who loved and supported her community.
“She delivered school shoes and uniforms to many children in the area. We need to redouble our effort to keep her legacy on. She was down to earth and had time for everybody. We need to fight corruption to keep her name, we are one soldier short. We need to drive and rebuild the ANC in her respect. To the children, it will take time for the pain to heal, but please remain strong,” Mantashe said.
A five-page obituary of the late mayor was read to the mourners, her early and tertiary education and her career as an educator were well documented. Her role in the local government and political involvement and family background and involvement in their church, St Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) were also put in print.
Other government and ANC officials attended the funeral including the suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule.
The couple is survived by their four children, three daughters in law, one son in law, and ten grandchildren. They also had a daughter who blessed them with three grandchildren.
