LESEGO LAID TO REST
Funeral service for 'phenomenal' woman a celebration of the life of actress, singer and poet
ACTRESS, singer and poet Lesego Motsepe was laid to rest yesterday.
Her funeral was a celebration of life. The mood was anything but sombre. Mourners danced and cheered as they remembered the “lively and phenomenal woman ” many knew as Lettie Matabane.
Friends, family and members of the arts fraternity packed the Bryanston Methodist Church to pay their last respects.
Her family, mostly dressed in black and pink, walked into the church behind Motsepe ’ s brown-and-black casket.
Her friend Marcus Desando, an opera singer who performed during the service, said it was the first time he got to sing for Motsepe, 39.
“She always asked me to sing [for her], and I ’ m only doing it now,” Desando said.
Actors and radio presenters the likes of Katlego Danke, Katlego Christopher, Meshack Mavuso, Rami Chuene, Thami Ngubeni and other familiar faces, including Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, were present.
Motsepe ’ s uncle Abe Ntlatleng said the autopsy confirmed the actress had died after a heart attack.
Her lifeless body was found by her brother Moemise at her Randburg home.
“She died with HIV, but did not die of HIV,” said her doctor Marlin McKay.
Motsepe endeared herself to the hearts of South Africans with her decade-long role as Lettie Matabane on popular soapie Isidingo.
She disclosed her HIV status in 2011.
Those close to Motsepe described her as “witty, intelligent, frank ” and as “someone who lived life to the fullest ”.
“[ She was] a phenomenal woman,” said her friend and stylist Tebogo Mwase.
Her nieces said she treated them as her own children.
“She said she didn ’ t need to have children because she already had us. We are her children,” said Bokala Motsepe.
Musician Pops Mohamed said Motsepe was his saving grace and there for him as a spiritual medium.
“She was so powerful. She would go into a trance when she prayed.”
Her friend and colleague, Sello Maake ka-Ncube paid his tribute to her in three poems, one of which is by the famous Mya Angelou, titled
Phenomenal Woman. Ka-Ncube said when he met Motsepe, he knew she had been well raised.
Motsepe was cremated at a private ceremony attended by close friends and family.
SHWASHWI was deeply saddened by the untimely passing of one of her favourite actresses, Lesego Motsepe.
Lesego, a poet, actress and HIV activist, will be affectionately remembered for her role as Letti Matabane on SABC3 ’ s Isidingo.
On Thursday Shwa attended a heartwrenching memorial service at the SABC studios, where many entertainment industry folk gathered to pay their respects to her.
Her family walked in hand in hand.
Her mother, Ivy, sobbed constantly throughout the service.
Friends described her as a “larger-than-life character who loved people and enjoyed hosting dinner parties ”.
Many colleagues and friends, including Tshepo Maseko (Parsons), her onscreen parents Keketso Semoko (Ma Agnes) and Don Mlangeni (Bra Zeb), on-screen husband Meshack Mavuso (Vusi Moletsane), and Motlatsi Mafatshe, Kgomotso Christopher, Akin Omotoso, Katlego Danke, Simphiwe Dana, Criselda Kananda, Thembi Seete and Sthandiwe Kgoroge all came to pay their respects.
Tears welled up as clips of her life showed on the screens, performing her craft.
When her uncle described how Lesego died alone, her friend, actress Esmeralda Bihl, wept before she read one of Lesego ’ s poems called
Teach me how to grieve.
The angelic-voiced gospel star Brenda Mtambo brought the auditorium to tears when she sang.
Lesego touched us all, whether through our screens or personally.
She will be remembered for being unapologetic about her choices, and for her wit and powerful voice.
Shwa ’ s thoughts are with her family.