The big tree has fallen, but the legacy stays intact
Gladys gave her all, and more, to the community
Born: July 12 1932 Died: November 7 Funeral: Tomorrow at home in Chebeng outside Polokwane, from 6am Burial: Chebeng Cemetery
Gladys Ramahuta, better known as ‘The Princess of the Moloto chieftainship’, died in her sleep on Tuesday last week. She was 85.
Ramahuta, a visionary and community leader, believed in the power of education and would do anything to ensure that not only her children but also her relatives’ children got educated as well.
Born in 1932 into the Moloto royal family, she attended school – as well as training for a teachers’ diploma – at the Grace Dieu College. She taught in Brits in North West and the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo. She retired while teaching at Setotolwane in 1972 to pursue business.
Ramahuta got married to Ronald Mabapa Ramahuta, who was also a teacher, in 1954. Her husband died in 1989.
Among some of the business interests that she ran with her husband in Chebeng village, Moletji, were a general dealer, a restaurant, a bottle store and a brick-manufacturing company which created jobs in the area.
The shops, which came helped employ local residents, were established at a time when the nearest shop was more than 5km from the vil- lage.
Ramahuta also drilled a borehole at her home and allowed the community to have access to water. She was instrumental in convincing the post office to provide a telephone exchange and postage system to enable her community to keep in touch with the outside world.
She also availed a private room at her business, which was rented by medical practitioners from Polokwane, to treat people in the area.
Ramahuta was credited with initiating a social club, Moshalagae Society, aimed at empowering women. Together with other women in her community, they bought crockery and supported one another in raising children and saving money for their families.
She also assisted poor families with mealie meal, meat and vegetables at no cost during funerals. She received recognition for her compassion over the years, including a bronze medal for the Order of the Baobab by President Jacob Zuma in 2012.
The spokesman for the family, Masenya Masenya, said they will remember Ramahuta as a generous and “committed humanitarian”.
Ramahuta leaves behind five children.
Mokgapa o mogolo o wele!