By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Limpopo Provincial Government has confirmed that Maggie Mathabatha, the wife of Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha, has died after a short illness.
Premier spokesperson, Willy Mosoma, “says it is with a painful heart to notify family, relatives friends and the people of Limpopo about the passing of the wife of Premier Mathabatha, Mma Maggie Mathabatha.
“Mma Mathabatha passed on this morning following a short illness. The community’s requested to give Mathabatha family space to mourn their loved one, and instead give them the much-needed support during this time of bereavement, funeral arrangements will be made available once the family has concluded them.”
“She will be remembered by the family, relatives, friends, and the people of Limpopo for her immense contribution towards the socio-economic development of the disadvantaged people.
“Through the Limpopo First Lady Trust, Mathabatha managed to mobilise resources which resulted in the successful building of houses for disadvantaged families, and the distribution of food parcels and wheelchairs.”
Mathabatha was born in Pretoria, Gauteng in 1961. She started school in Vosloorus in 1968 and matriculated at Illinge High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Primary Education degree at the University of Western Cape in 1990.
She also obtained her Master’s Degree at Turfloop Graduate School in 2011.
Mathabatha has taught at various schools before she joined the Office of the Premier as a deputy manager in 1999.
She later moved to the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism as a manager of service delivery improvement. She became Limpopo’s first lady in 2013, when she returned with her husband from Ukraine, where Mathabatha was ambassador.
Mathabatha was also blessed with three children in her marriage with the premier.
Funeral arrangements are under way and more details will be announced in due course.
Messages of condolences are pouring in from all walks of life to the people of Limpopo, following the passing of first lady.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of Limpopo Premier Mathabatha.
“My thoughts and those of the National Executive as well as the nation are with Premier Mathabatha, his family, and the administration of Limpopo in this moment of loss.
“We join the people of Limpopo in this hour of mourning and in our shared prayer that the soul of MmaMathabatha will rest in peace, “Ramaphosa said.
He reflected on the work that she did in the community.
“As a community-focused leader, MmaMathabatha dedicated herself to the development and dignity of the people of Limpopo through housing opportunities, food security and support to people with disabilities.
“Her involvement with communities was a valued and exemplary complement to the work of Government led by the Premier and the Provincial Executive,” he said.
The Limpopo provincial government explained that the first lady of Limpopo died following a short illness.
“Mma Mathabatha will be remembered by the family, relatives, friends and the people of Limpopo for her immense contribution towards socio-economic development of the disadvantaged people.”