Ramaphosa ‘a rare glue’

FUNERAL: BAPEDI ROYAL FAMILY SAYS PRESIDENT IS A TRUE LEADER ‘The time will come when we will be able to pay proper tribute to our loved ones.’

The Bapedi royal family in Limpopo have described President Cyril Ramaphosa as a “rare glue” that binds the nation together and a father of the nation.

The family, which is still mourning the death of King Victor Thulare III, said yesterday Ramaphosa was a true leader who did not forget his roots and who had the interest of all at heart.

King Thulare died at the age of 40 recently.

He was the son of the King Rhyne Thulare and was officially recognised by Ramaphosa as king of the Bapedi in 2020.

He was buried at Maebe Tjate III, Mohlaletsi village in the Bapedi Kingdom in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo on Sunday.

“We have a lot to say about the president. First, he recognised our father as the legitimate king of the Bapedi nation, designated his funeral to be a special official funeral category one, ordered that the national flags be flown at half-mast at every station from 13 January until yesterday, graced us with his presence at the funeral and delivered a speech at the funeral,” said Bapedi royal family spokesman Ntwampe Mampuru yesterday.

“As if that was not enough, he tells us how he had planned to honour the king by taking the famous ANC January 8 commemoration to Limpopo, in Sekhukhune.

“It was during that time that he had planned to officially visit the king.

“But the coronavirus robbed us of that jamboree until the king’s death. Ramaphosa is a real leader.

“His relationship with us will be tied up with our bones.”

Mampuru said Ramaphosa had a clear understanding about the lives which were lost during the Anglo Boer War with the British who, he said, wanted to colonise their land.

He said one such life lost was of the son of King Bapedi I, Moroamotshe.

Delivering the eulogy during King Thulare’s funeral, Ramaphosa said it was the pandemic that prevented his planned visit to the king and to the royal household this month.

“This visit was to be part of the commemoration of the formation of the ANC on 8 January, 1912, in which the kings and chiefs of this country played such a central part,” said Ramaphosa.

“We have no choice but to wait until this storm has passed before we can observe all the protocols and practices that are due to a life so deserving.

“The time will come when we will be able to pay proper tribute to our loved ones. For now, let us be safe and save lives.”

The president said in many parts of the country, hospitals and clinics were overwhelmed, while healthcare workers came under severe strain.

He said in Limpopo, infections, hospital admissions and deaths were greater and higher than they were in the first wave.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will begin a mass vaccination programme that is expected to significantly reduce infections as it reaches more of our people,” said Ramaphosa.

“We will also increase our efforts to rebuild our economy, restoring the jobs that have been lost and providing support to struggling households.

“Kgoshikgolo Thulare would have been part of this effort, working in partnership with government, business and unions to bring investment and infrastructure to this area.

“He brought experts together to chart a new economic path for Ga-Sekhukhune, with a strong focus on youth empowerment,” the president said.

His relationship with us will be tied up with our bones