Message of condolences on the passing-on of Mr David Phetoe
“The passing on of Ntate Phetoe has come as a shock to us as the Free State Province and the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. We have no words sufficient enough to express our sadness at this moment of sorrow. Indeed, a dark cloud is hanging over us all because indeed Ntate Phetoe belonged to us all in various ways. He has touched us singularly and collectively in one way or another”, stated Me Mathabo Leeto, the Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
He was a good ambassador for the Free State as an artist on a national stage. As a language activist, a poet and a great writer in indigenous languages, he remarkably showcased the talent that we possess in the Free State and we owe him a great deal of gratitude as Free Staters. Amongst his many accolades, he was an associate producer of the forthcoming documentary film called Motlhaba Mashi a Nwako; and was involved in infrastructure development work in the creative industry.
As the Department we are honoured to have had a rare opportunity to work with him in various ways. As the President of Letsema, the NGO in the creative industry, together with his colleagues such as Ntate Jerry Tsie, we partnered on projects such as the promotion of Sipho Mutsi legacy, a young activist who was killed by the apartheid regime in the 1980s, in the form of a documentary production; establishment of Sipho Mutsi precinct and unveiling of Sipho Mutsi tombstones. His involvement in one of our flagship programmes, the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE), contributed enormously in the development of writers during the MACUFE Wordfest (a literary platform of MACUFE). He further assisted the Department during the publication of the book called Manyeka Thipa, which is a book on the background of Basotho people.
We are indeed delighted with the role that Ntate Phetoe played in the promotion of multilingualism, African Languages in particular. Promotion of languages is one of the key mandates of the Department as enshrined in the Free State Language Act. We have thus been greatly assisted by the torch bearers such as Ntate Phetoe who in their own way advanced this goal of multilingualism.
“I want to appeal to the family and colleagues of Ntate Phetoe, such as Ntate Jerry Tsie, that we should never allow the legacy of Ntate Phetoe to evaporate. The good work that he has done during his lifetime must go on”, further stated MEC Leeto.
MEC Leeto extends her condolences to the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of Ntate Phetoe during this hour of darkness and wishes that the family strength from the All Mighty our Lord in this hour of sorrow.
May his soul find eternal peace!
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