GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The funeral of the late Bishop Patrick Matolengwe's wife, Nolusapho, was held on Thursday 30 June.
Mourners came as far as Cape Town, Gauteng and Kimberly to pay their last tribute. Nolusapho was a very generous person and a loving mother.
Nompumelelo Crecencia Nolusapho Matolengwe died on 29 June at the age of 74, in her sleep in Johannesburg and was buried in Graaff-Reinet from the St Phillips Church at Masizakhe.
The funeral service was attended by Rev Zinakele Klaas of the St Phillips Church at Masizakhe, the archdeacon of the Karoo, Dr Mark Marais, and the Rt Reverend Bishop Oswald Swartz and his wife Yasmin and Dr Mongezi Guma.
Thule Mdleleni, who has been friends with Matolengwe said she did not know Matolengwe that long, but she knew her as a very lovely person, a person with peace and love, a humorous person.
Thembakazi Burhali sent the 'Qhawekazi' off with music and praise. She remembered her as a great teacher from primary school in Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape.
Sophie de Bruyn, Matolengwe's sister-in-law, also said she had a good sense of humour.
"She was kind and loving, a lively person and she could stand firm and gentle."
She was born on 9 of December 1942 in Lady Gray and was the daughter of Titus and Lawukazi Nxele. She was a teacher at Vela Langa Lower Primary School from 1963 to 1965 in Paballelo in Upington and also taught at St Michaels Higher Primary School in Sterkspruit from 1966 to 1968. She then moved to Cape Town where she taught at Lehlohonolo Higher Primary School in Gugulethu from 1969 to1973.
She then worked as a counsellor and fieldworker for the Western Province Family Planning Association from 1974 to 1977. From 1980 to 1988 she was an organiser and activist for the Domestic Workers Union in Cape Town, where she taught adult basic education, dealt with dispute resolution and was a representative of domestic worker disputes.
She also worked closely with the late Archbishop's wife Leah, to enhance the condition and treatment of domestic workers. They fought for domestic worker rights and empowerment. She was very passionate about fair treatment and basic human rights for these women.
Matolengwe was married to Monwabisi Patrick Matolengwe (1937-2019) in 1969 in Graaff Reinet and was blessed with five children. The two travelled the world extensively.
She was buried next to her husband Monwabisi Patrick Matolengwe in Graaff-Reinet. She left behind her only brother Ndoda David Nxele, her children Luzuko, Ingrid, Mongameli, Thozamile, Nombulelo and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sophie de Bruyn and Palanki Matolengwe. Photos: Neco Bokwe
Rev. Oswald Swartz and Rev. Canon Mongezi Guma were led by the ushers into the St Phillips Church.
Patrick Matolengwe and his wife, Nolusapho.
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