Man of books loved the written word all his life
Phoko believed in enriching minds
Born: July 25 1936 Died: March 25 Funeral: Saturday, Anglican Church of the Resurrection in Zone 7 Meadowlands, Soweto, from 8am
Burial: Nasrec Memorial Park The late Henry Strydom Phoko was the man who believed in the power of reading.
He inculcated that mentality in his four children, Ivan, Martin, Kabelo and Basimane.
His children reminisced about how he introduced and encouraged them to read a variety of literature from the hilarious Jojo cartoons, novels, drama, poetry, etc.
Phoko would always say to them that “reading enriches one’s mind and makes the person aware of what is happening around them”.
He said there are no short cuts to reading, for example, a newspaper. “You read it from the first page to the last page”.
Born in Khunana village in North West, Phoko relocated to Phefeni in Soweto where he was raised by his aunt Matete and her husband, Leepo Abram Kgoroeadira. He was the son of the late Machere and Peloareng Phoko.
He matriculated at Orlando High School and later worked at various hospital libraries such as Baragwanath, Coronation and Johannesburg. Phoko also worked at the Dube, Orlando, Jubilee Centre and Johannesburg City libraries.
He obtained a bachelor of arts degree in librarian science and received numerous acclaims for outstanding work.
Phoko, who was married to Ruth Mosengwa Phoko, nee Scheepers, died on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 81. He leaves behind his wife, four sons, 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and all the people he shared his life with.
Robala ka kgotso Mokgoro, mmina phiri e e thamaga ya Masetlhodiana!