Dear Mthembu, your departure hurts, it hurts deeply, I feel naked without you, you were a larger-than-life character, your height seemed to always given you a vintage advantage, as such every time you entered a venue, it would be dramatic as you were loud and with that thundering laughter and there would be no doubt that you had arrived.Â
I,1st heard about Bongani from my older sister who had just returned from Rhodes University, the stories were illuminating, and when I got to be introduced to him, it felt like I had known him forever. I later learned that his paternal home was in Cala, and his mother was uMaMbhele, this further cemented our relationship as i was from Cala and ndili Bhele.
Mthembu gave us so much, leading AZASO towards unification and the establishment of SANSCO, his activism in the UDF, thus putting his life in danger. In the late 1980’s he was intimately involved in preparation for the release our leaders from Robben Island and receiving them back into civil society. Mthembu adored the intellectual prowess of the late Isthwalandwe Goven Mbeki, who he served diligently.
Bongani had a memory of an elephant, dates, events and key players at every material moment our struggle, a couple of months ago I had teased him that we needed to write all of his stories for future generations, pity fate intervened otherwise. One of the lessons he learned from Oom Gov was the ability to be reflective of the decisions one has taken and will take, this allowed him not to be afraid of admitting short comings. I am a lot poor with his loss, I learned so much from this gallant fighter of our revolution, who was full of love for many of us younger than him, I will greatly miss you, your guidance and naughty nature of looking at our complex challenges.Â
Lala ke Madiba, Phumla Mthembu Oomde, Vela beku hleli kakubi. Sis Thami we love you, we are battling with this loss so I can’t imagine how it is to you. we will attempt to at least follow on your massive foot steps
