Classroom builder passes away

ZULULAND teachers and principals heard with sadness of the passing of Michael Nzuza, who lost his fight with cancer on Valentine’s Day.

Over many years Michael supervised the construction of many classrooms built by the eShowe Community Action Group (ECAG), ensuring that funds donated to ECAG by local and overseas donors were spent wisely.

He never complained, even when it became obvious to everyone that he was terminally ill.

Born in 1971 into a family of several children, Michael was initially used as an ‘umlusayo’ – one of the young boys who herd the family’s livestock.

Although he wanted to go to school, the cattle came first, so he was initially denied proper education.

Only when he was 15 years old did he attend school, sitting in a classroom with seven-year-old learners at the local Thembalesizwe Primary School in Entumeni.

After he reached Grade 2, his family decided he was old enough to ‘go to the mines’ to earn money for the family.

Michael rebelled, something unusual in Zulu culture even now, but far more so at the time.

Already in his 20s, he left the family and moved to Thabazimbi, where he stayed with a family friend who was a student teacher.

Although 10 years older than all of his classmates, Michael persevered with his studies and finally matriculated in his mid-twenties.

There was an added benefit of his move to Thabazimbi, because it was there that he met his wife, and the couple, once married, moved back to eShowe where Michael joined Volbrecht & Associates, later Makhoba, Volbrecht & Associates, where he was a valued member of staff for 15 years.

He is survived by his widow, Abigail, a son Awande (19) and daughter Aphelele (12).