Man of the cloth forthright and loving

BORN: December 28 1928 DIED: February 3 2017 FUNERAL: Yesterday BURIAL: Leboneng, Hammanskraal

REVEREND Levi “Dede” Masombuka died on February 3 at the Groenkloof Life Hospital in Pretoria after a long illness.

Masombuka, pictured, was a forthright man of the cloth who brooked no waywardness from any member of his parish.

To many young souls who came under his spiritual tutelage, he was a father who gave them tough love as he moulded them into upright and responsible members of the community.

Masombuka was born on December 28 1928 in Cullinan. He was married to Rose Masombuka, nee Mabuza, and they were blessed with six children.

He stared his primary education at St Mary’s School in Cullinan. He later proceeded to Tiger Kloof Training College where he obtained his primary school teacher’s certificate.

He taught in Cullinan and later went to Lesotho. His ministerial calling happened in 1953 when he went to Kilnerton College to study under the late Reverend J J Nkosi.

He was later seconded to the Methodist Church in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni. In 1956–1957, the Methodist Church sent him to Fort Hare’s Wesley House Theological College to further his training. After graduating at Wesley House, Masombuka served as head priest at several Methodist Church circuits. Masombuka also served as district youth secretary in the then Transvaal and in Swaziland. At some stage he also served as vice-chairman of the Bloemfontein and Kimberley districts and the then Northern Transvaal and Botswana district now known as the Limpopo district. While stationed in GaRankuwa, Masombuka was appointed to serve on the committee that selected young men who intended to join the Methodist ministry. He served the Methodist Church for 17 years as candidate secretary in the department of education. Masombuka retired in 1994 and went on to author two spiritual books, My Thought and Prayer for the Day (1997) and Word Made Flesh (1998).

He is survived by his four daughters Zakhe, Mampu, Lindy and Nombulelo, two brothers, three sisters, as well as scores of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Masombuka was buried in Leboneng, Hammanskraal, yesterday.