Education stalwart laid to rest

THE Eastern Cape education fraternity is mourning the death of long-serving teacher and activist Archibald Ndodomzi Nceba Ngxamngxa.

Ngxamngxa, 82, succumbed to a long illness last Saturday.

He will be remembered for his contribution to education, a passion he was born into as his parents were also teachers in the Eastern Cape. His career, which spanned more than 25 years, saw him teach at several high schools in the former Ciskei and Transkei homelands.

He completed his secondary schooling at Healdtown in 1954, and received his teaching diploma two years later.

His career as a teacher started Secondary School in Pirie Mission.

His desire to study further saw him graduate from the University of Fort Hare with bachelor and honours degrees in arts.

He returned to teaching at Forbes Grant Secondary School, Zwelitsha Training School and as a principal at Zeleni Secondary School.

Following this, he took up a career in the former Ciskei government and became head of the department of culture.

After a fallout with the then chief minister of Ciskei, Lennox Sebe, Ngxamngxa was removed and sent back to teach at Kama Secondary School.

He did not stay long and left for Rhodes University where he worked for a brief period before taking up a position at Mabobothi High School in Centane in 1974.

It was during this period that he fell foul of the Ciskei security branch and was expelled from the territory, and his home in Butterworth became a refuge for numerous politicians and officials fleeing Ciskei.

He is survived by his wife, Nozinzo, three daughters, Nobathembu, Bulelwa and Unathi, grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Ngxamngxa will be laid to rest today at the King William’s Town cemetery preceded by a short gathering at his home in Amatola Street, King William’s Town at 8.30am, followed by a service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church from 9am. — DDC at Ross