Praises for Madikizela as she is laid to rest
ANC veteran given civil funeral
The late ANC leader and former councilor in the ANC ticket, Tsakani Maria Shirinda aka Madikizela was a selfless community worker and serviced the community selflessly until her passing.
Madikizela, of M’tititi Plange Village in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality was buried at Plange cemetery today. Her funeral service took place at Plange United Citizens ground and attended by hundreds of people. Speaker after speaker spoke of her commitment to the ANC and service the people. Madikizela has been a counselor in the ANC ticket from 1995 to 2021.
Addressing the mourners Collins Chabane Local Municipality mayor Gezani Shadrack Maluleke hailed her for her commitment to serve the people. He said although she was no longer a councilor after she served for 26 years, there had been an agreement that any councilor or past councilor who died should be accorded a civil funeral, and the municipality played its part to give the veteran leader, named after the late Nomzamo Winnie Mandela, a dignified funeral. ”To keep her memory alive, we should strive to be united and give services to the people as she was committed to throughout her life, “said the mayor. Longstanding councilor and also veteran leader Ms Faith Chauke who represented the ANC in the Vhembe region also praised the late Madikizela.
She described the late Madikizela was one of the people who worked for the ANC during the time it was reintroducing itself in the country following it’s unbanning. “That is the reason that she and her late friend comrade Maria Nghonyama were the first female councilors together with me during the time of the Lavabo Shingwedzi transitional local authority,” she said.
She said Madikizela was a committed leader of the ANC and she spent her life selflessly serving the community.
This was endorsed by her longstanding friend Gail Khosa, her son Percy, her step son Siphiwe Shirinda popularly known as Xilonda mali and Contralesa Vhembe chairperson Prince Gulukhulu Mathebula. Madikizela was also a traditional healer and her funeral service was graced by the attendance of fellow traditional healers led by Tongasi Makhubele.
Family representative Dr Phineas Sambo said he was not surprised by the accolade she received from mourners because even in the greater Sambo family, she was a leader. Speaker also came from Sanco, the SACP and the M’tititi traditional council. The programme director was the well-known musician and jokesmith Solly Makamu of the Mafenya Brothers musical ensemble.
All pics by Wisani Photos
