Mme Nnuku was dynamic
Accident ends long community work
Born: May 30 1932
Died: April 18 2017 Funeral: Tomorrow, at Meloding Community Hall. Burial: Meloding Cemetery, Virginia
Mme Nnuku Elizabeth Radebe is no more.
The 85-year-old selfless community leader died last week at Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein after unsuccessful hipreplacement surgery.
She was transferred there a week earlier from Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom after surviving a car accident in Meloding, Virginia.
Her death shocked the community, given the active role she was playing, even at her old age. At the time of her death, Mother, as she was affectionately known, was running the Meloding Day Care Centre she founded decades ago and various women empowerment organisations in the area.
Radebe was born on May 30 1932 at Mapallong Smaldeel farm near Theunissen in Free State.
She was the first born of five children by Molapo and Matladi Makhathe, who have all departed.
She did her primary schooling at the Bantu United School in 1948 and proceeded to Moroka Missionary Institution in Thaba Nchu for her senior certificate. After completing her studies, she worked as the first African professional nurse at Moroka Hospital in Thaba Nchu. In 1959, she joined Meloding clinic in Virginia as the first African midwife.
She married Andrew Moruti Radebe and they were blessed with two children, Zipho and Thokozile. In 1965, Radebe’s husband Andrew was detained for three months without trial by the security branch.
This was after the police expressed unhappines with their community uplifting programmes in Virginia.
During this fight with the authorities, Radebe found work and was employed by Harmony Hospital in Virginia as a nurse. Six month later she was promoted to senior sister.
In her spare time, Radebe again started several community projects, particularly for women.
She established Zenzele Women and Girl Child NGO and she received overwhelming support.
Radebe will be buried tomorrow, after a funeral service at at the Meloding Community Hall.