Rugby mourns passing of influential Monde Tabata
The death of Monde Tabata, 60, means “a pillar of black rugby” has fallen and left a huge hole in Eastern Cape rugby.
Tabata succumbed to Covid19 related complications.
Tributes have poured in from the South African rugby community since news of his death broke on Thursday night.
Tabata was an SA Rugby executive council (executive committee) member who also served as an administrator in the Border and Eastern Province rugby unions.
Former Border Rugby head Simphiwe Ntantala, speaking in his capacity as a rugby lover, said Tabata’s death was a huge loss to the game.
“His passing is such a loss for Border-Kei rugby because he was with us through thick and thin. He will be sorely missed by all [involved in rugby in the province],” said Ntantala.
Former Border Rugby commercial manager and current Walter Sisulu University rugby coach Akhona Mgijima was still in shock and “not coping” with the death of one of his mentors.
“He was a father figure in my rugby and in my life. He was a pillar of black rugby, an honest man who was never scared to voice his views, but he was always dignified in the way he did it. At the moment we don’t have a voice any more; rugby lost an ear and a voice,” Mgijima said.
“I was very close to him. For an up-andcoming rugby administrator like me, he was great to learn from as he was intelligent and he was able to listen and give you good advice. When I wanted to quit rugby he told me to stay and fight and asked me, ‘Who would fix [rugby in the] Border if you also leave?’.” Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane also paid tribute to Tabata, saying his contribution to business and rugby had made the Eastern Cape a better place.
“I wish the Tabata family, friends and colleagues strength and comfort as they process this profound loss at a time when everyone hoped he would recover from this illness,” Mabuyane said.
“His lifelong contribution to the development of the people of our province in rugby and in business injected a significant impetus that shaped successful careers of individuals and helped to progress institutions in a way that made our province a better place.”
Mark Alexander, SA Rugby Union president, said: “It is almost impossible to imagine that he will no longer sit at our council tables offering wise and passionate input on all manner of subjects.”
He was a father figure in my rugby and in my life. He was a pillar of black rugby, an honest man who was never scared to voice his views