A wise person once said:
“A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam. And for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it.”
This quote, friends, encapsulates the Gauteng Provincial Government’s – and in particular - my feelings as the Premier of Gauteng about the untimely passing of actor and comedian, Mandla “Bongo” Thabethe. Death came in, like a thief in the night, and robbed us of more than just a comedian. It robbed us of a father, husband, a friend, a colleague and an activist with an undying passion for the growth of the arts and culture sector of our country and province.
Indeed, Bongo, as most of us knew him, brought much joy and happiness to the lives of the many people he encountered in his line of work as an entertainer, actor and biker. Through his sitcom, Family Bonds, and exceptional acting skills, Bongo and his colleagues brought warmth, love and laughter into our homes every week; in that way giving us a window to laugh at ourselves. For that we say, siyabonga Mangethe!
Your work illuminated many a depressed soul throughout our country and province. Like a butterfly passing with the summer breeze; you were with us briefly, and gone only too soon. Yet you brought so much colour and beauty to so many people that we will never forget you, and the contributions you made towards the development of the arts in this country.
We like those who have the pleasure of witnessing the splendour of the beautiful summer butterfly, are lucky to have had the pleasure of knowing you.
To his colleagues in the entertainment industry, let us remember Bongo for the passion and intensity he brought everyday to his work. To his fellow workers at Sosiba Entertainment: continue raising the flag that Bongo so proudly flew.
To Bongo’s friends in the biking community we say; continue breaking the stereotype that biking is an enclave of certain parts of our communities. That, I know, is what Mangethe would want us to do. In fact, his death comes a week after we – together with his biker friends from the West Rand - held a Prayer Meeting to highlight the spate of motorbike deaths in that part of our province. We owe it to Bongo to continue raising issues of road safety for bikers.
To Sis Mapula and Bongo’s son we say – be consoled, for Mandla Thabethe lived his life to the fullest and passed on doing one of the things he was deeply passionate about. You remain in our prayers.
Lala ngoxolo, Mangethe!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
3 February 2010
