Ramakhanya hailed for his contribution in Struggle
Academic was also known for his activism alongside his wife
The late Struggle stalwart and academic Dr Takalani Happy Ramakhanya has received praises from Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, regarded as the Venda’s pioneer political priest.
Dr Farisani said Ramakhanya, who died at Polokwane Medi-Clinic this month, played a role in the fight against apartheid that cannot be ignored. He said Ramakhanya organised political activists at a time it was dangerous to do so.
“The late 70s and 80s were difficult period in Limpopo, particularly in Louis Trichardt area,” he said.
“People were uprooted from areas next to town to far-flung areas. There was also the tribalising of people as people who had lived together for ages were moved in terms of their ethnic groupings.”
He said during the time when you were anti-apartheid, you faced harassment and intimidation and if you were a public servant, you risked not getting promoted.
“But Happy Ramakhanya, who was a member of the Transvaal United Teachers Union, left the union for something more revolutionary when he formed the Northern Transvaal Teachers Congress which later organised its members to be part of the South African Democratic Teachers Union. The union later affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Union and he made Cosatu fat with membership,” said Farisani.
He said the late leader was also on the forefront of leading campaigns for land restitution and he was working with some communities up until his death.
Ramakhanya was the husband of Limpopo transport and community safety MEC Mavhungu Ramakhanya, a political activist in her own right and also alongside her now late spouse.
He was born at Mbulu Munanari village in Nzhelele in 1951, as the first born son of Tuwani Pitirosi Ramakhanya and Marubini Anna Ramakhanya.
He started lower primary school at Vuvha before continuing at Vhulaudzi Primary. He then went to Mphephu Secondary School.
In 1976, he completed a teachers’ diploma at the University of the North (now University of Limpopo).
He completed his honours degree at Rhodes University and masters at Unisa and in 1985 he was promoted to be the principal of Denga High School, until 1993.
He later became vice-rector of Tshisimani College of Education before he was promoted to be the rector of the college until 2000 when he was promoted to be the manager of Southpansberg circuit.
From 2004 to the time of his retirement in 2016, he was holding the position of Makhado Continuous Professional Development Centre.
Ramakhanya was buried at Louis Trichardt cemetery on Monday. He is survived by his wife, eight children and seven grandchildren.