ALI MPHAKI
THE death of a parent, especially a mother, is a pain that can’t be compared to any other.
The Letsele family, of Phiri, lost their mother to a stroke last Thursday.
Cecilia Mathabo Letsele died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. She was 89.
Tears flowed when word got out that Letsele had died, but bringing some solace to the family is that there are not many who are fortunate to live long enough to be an octogenarian.
Letsele’s life’s journey began in Lesotho in 1925, where she was the second child born in a family of four children.
At the age of 28 she decided to leave the rural confines of Lesotho and head for the bright lights of Joburg, where she first stayed at what was known as the Orlando Shelters.
Life was not ideal at the Shelters, but Letsele soldiered on, making ends meet by doing odd jobs.
Luck smiled on her when, in 1957, she got her own house in Phiri, which she occupied until her death.
It was in Phiri that she married her husband Elias Letsele, who died in 1993.
The couple had seven children, six of whom are still living.
Residents of Phiri will remember her as a true mother who wanted only the best for her children.
When her husband died, Letsele did not wallow in grief, but pulled herself up by her bootstraps to face the world solo.
She had to raise her children single-handedly, a task she handled with aplomb.
One of the teachings that will forever remain etched in their minds is that they should respect themselves in order to respect others.
Her eldest son Neo said his mother taught them that respect was a two-way street and that they should love God with all their heart.
Letsele was not only one for words, but walked the talk as a staunch member of the Roman Catholic church in Molapo, where she was a member of the women’s association.
Her family say she was a regular churchgoer and were deeply saddened later in her life when she could no longer walk to church because she had problems with her feet.
Many in Phiri know Letsele as the old woman who used to sell amanqina(sheep’s feet) at the local Inkanyezi Primary School.
At home she ran a small business selling popcorn, sweets and other goodies.
Letsele, who is survived by 16 grandchildren, will be buried tomorrow after a requiem in the Roman Catholic Church in Molapo.
The service starts at 7.30am and the cortege will proceed to the Avalon cemetery at 10am.