WISE NGUNDHU WAS A GREAT MOTIVATOR
THE community of Greenfarm, Malamulele, has lost one of its elders, James Hasani Chauke, who was known as Nghundhu.
He was the father of Gezani Eric Chauke, who is pastor of the Divine Kingdom Miracle Centre church.
Chauke died on June 8 in Malamulele Hospital after a short illness.
Gezani said his father was his great motivator.
“Although he was not a Christian, my father used to urge me to pray and used to be proud of my work as a pastor when the sick [were] healed,” he said.
“My father used to sit with us as his children, sharing jokes and offering advice.”
Gezani, who started his church in 2013 after visiting Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua, added that his father’s death had touched many people in the area.
One of the people mourning Chauke’s passing is Dr Nicki Malungani of the Word Miracle Centre Church in Kgapane, Limpopo. Malungani has also promised to preside at the funeral.
Born in Ha-Dumasi in Venda on November 29 1944, Chauke left school in Standard 3 (now Grade 5).
He did odd jobs in the Malamulele area before leaving for Johannesburg where he worked for the South African Railways and Harbours until he retired in 1994.
As an elder at home, he offered advice on civic matters in the village.
He is survived by his mother, Nwa-Johannes Chauke, and seven children.
He will be buried tomorrow at Greenfarm, Malamulele.
The service will be held at the Nghundhu household at 6am.
The cortege will later move to Greenfarm cemetery for his his final resting place. –