A man who never ate alone Tribute to Eric Mapara
Saturday 22 April started at sunrise, with runners from all over Grahamstown gathering outside Matebese Funeral Parlour in M Street. They formed a guard of honour to escort Eric Mapara from there to his family home in Tantyi, again to the church in Extension 4, and to his final resting place in Waainek Cemetery.
attended his funeral and recorded some of the tributes to the legendary runner.
Eric Mapara was born in Addo on 29 on April 1953, the child of Nonzwakazi Ntlanganiso and Michael Tapfume Mapara.
He attended Newell High School in Port Elizabeth. His early work life included working as a barman at the Railway Hotel in North End, Port Elizabeth. He than moved to Grahamstown, where over 18 years, he worked his way up from being a wine steward at the Old Grand Hotel to the position of shift manager.
He then moved to East London,where he worked in the sales department for KSM Milling for 17 years before leaving to pursue his own business.
Eric was very fond of longdistance running and cycling. He completed numerous marathons across the country and rarely missed the big races, such as Two Oceans and Comrades. He was a member of the Rhodes University Athletics club.
Eric passed away on 23 April. He is survived by his wife, Pumza, nine brothers and sisters and his nine children, Ryan, Noziphiwe, Monde, Noxolo, Ndatie, Asa, Nyasha, Soso and Sino, as well as a grandchild.
Isithethi sokukhula – Eric's sister Neliswa Mapara
Our Auntie, who is sitting right there, raised us. As a child, Eric was helpful and considerate.
Maybe when we came back from school, he would see our aunt sitting with her hand on her head, and he would ask, Mother how do you feel? You look like you're not feeling well. Our auntie would say, No my child, I have a headache because I did not have tea.
He would play for a while before leaving and when he would come back, he will bring in a Horseshoe tobacco bag (ihushu) all the money he'd been given by our mother when he assisted her at work.
He would keep it out and they would both count the money. Our auntie would keep the amount needed for sugar and tea.
Eric would take the money, put water on the fire to boil and go to the shop. My job was to keep the fire burning.
When Eric returned, he would make tea for our auntie.
In Addo it was me, Eric and Tata uNototo. Our mother loved prickly pears and he would go and pick some for her. When she became ill, he would make the coffee for her, as he is the elder one. He would put the pillows behind her, to make sure she was sitting up straight, and would give her the coffee.
We played as children - but after some time you would see him leaving to cook food and give it to her. After some time
he would wash her. At these times, he told me to leave her alone because I had these questions to ask.
Our older sister arrived to help as our mother became more ill - but he did not give up. We lived together in love and harmony. There was nothing wrong.
Umelwane – Vuyiswa Nzizi
We are divided by a fence.
It is clear who Eric was and that it came from his home, because I've just heard it from the person who grew up with him.
Eric loved my mother. He used to cook isigwamba (spinach) and give it to my mother. My mother would say, “Nasi isigwamba siphekwe ngu Ero (there’s the spinach cooked by Eric) – it tastes like it’s been cooked by the women.”
Eric was not someone who ate alone: he was always sharing what he had with others.
I thought he was doing this at my home only - but found out that if someone in the area had a function, he would help. So he belonged to everyone in the area. We have lost some one who was worthy.
Isithethi senkonzo (Church member )
uBawo Mapara was in the finance committee in this church. He served alongside the late former teacher legend herself, uMakhulu Sobayeni. uBawo, he was not a speaker, but he had good ideas that were uplifting. He was very helpful in the Church.
For example, he would use his car to transport church members, without expecting any refund.
Former running comrade, Christopher Matya
Bra Eric played an important role in South African running. He started his running career in his early 30s and was still running at the age of 65. He died running, as he predicted. He was inspired by Francis Jordain, who encouraged Eric and me to join the multiracial running club, the Drostdy Harriers, which comprised academics from Rhodes University, businesspeople, farmers and ordinary citizens, including the poor.
Eric encouraged many youngsters in Grahamstown to participate in running, including Likhaya Daile, who became captain of the Springbok under-19 athletics team.
Eric was behind the successful running careerof Likhaya, who is today a successful businessman living in the US, happily married with two children. He spared no extravagance in supporting and encouraging young talent, and paid for Likhaya's first flight and visa for the US.
It was Eric, too, who inspired Peter Sidina to win the Foot of Africa and Bongolo marathons, and mentored Thembinkosi 'Tbag' Mdyogolo to finish nine Comrades ultramarathons. Tbag has achieved six silvers in that gruelling race.
Under Eric's guidance, Eric ‘Banana’ Mangqengwana won the 60km Settlers ultramarathon from Grahamstown to Port Alfred. Mzwanele Maphekula, another product of Eric's mentorship, came second in the Two Oceans marathon in 2008. Eric was himself ready to fly the flag for Grahamstown in the Two Oceans marathon held over Easter weekend, but he sadly passed away days before the event. Eric's loss is not only to his family, but to all of Grahamstown - especially the families in his Xolani neighbourhood. Eric touched the lives of a lot of people.
May his soul rest in peace. May the angels lead him into Paradise and take him to the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, and may the choir of angels welcome him.
• In writing this tribute, Matya was guided by top runner
Thembinkosi Mdyogolo.