By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mourners gathered at the University of the Free State’s South Campus in Bloemfontein for the final send-off of the late Education MEC Tate Makgoe.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has afforded Makgoe a category 1 provincial official funeral. Various dignitaries, including premiers of Gauteng, North West, provincial MECs as well as the Minister of Basic Education were in attendance.
This past week the provincial government revealed that the number of people at the graveyard would be limited.
The provincial government had also revealed that Makgoe’s remains were transported from the government mortuary to Bloemfontein on 7 March 2023. This process was coordinated by the police, together with the appointed funeral parlour.
Makgoe’s bodyguard was laid to rest at Magengenene in Bloemfontein on Saturday. They passed away in a car accident last week Sunday.
Delivering a message on behalf of the widow, Ivy Makgoe, the family representative highlighted the moments that the wife and family shared with him in the past years.
“To my loving husband, father of my children, my best friend, my compass, my Makgoe, it is with a heavy heart that I write this message and bid you farewell so suddenly and so soon.
You have been a tower of strength in our lives, our protector, advisor and guardian angel. Love and humility have shaped our lives together and I am grateful to God for bringing us together.
You were quite a visionary and had a unique ability to drive us to fulfil our dreams. Our lives were shaped by an attitude of foresight, brilliance and wisdom. You managed to protect our family and helped us understand the importance of serving the people of this country.
You were the best father to your children, they were not spoiled with finer things in life but you always asked them to work hard and make sure they succeed.
You encouraged them to be entrepreneurs because you believed that that is a space as black people we have not tapped into, you encouraged them to be employers, not employees and explained that they create employment and compete internationally for contribution to Economic Development.
“We love you and will always remember you, Ntate Makgoe,” his widow said in the letter.
The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Reginah Mhaule, speaking on behalf of the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, extended her sincere condolences to the Makgoe family.
“As Gauteng Provincial Government, we declare that what we used to cherish has left us, what we used to celebrate is now more and what was used to be around us is no longer around us. I come here limping and speechless, hurt and disturbed, lost and disorientated. One person made us all come together today but that person is not here with us today, only his remains are with us,” she said.
Makgoe led a provincial education department that achieved the best matric results in the country for the past four years.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.