The passing on of Acting Judge Patrick Ntobeko Maqubela is a huge blow to the country especially to the legal fraternity and the arts culture and heritage sectors. Such a loss will create a huge vacuum in the leadership of these sectors. He earned respect in the heritage sector as the chairperson of one of the leading institutions within our fold, the National Heritage Council (NHC).
He represented a breed of highly committed leaders who avail their knowledge and capacities beyond their normal call of duty. Widely recognised as a freedom fighter that fought titanic battles to liberate his people, he continued with that collective spirit of availing himself for national duty. He displayed an unyielding focus on the transformation of the sector, availing some of the key ideas contained in the heritage transformation charter.
Acting Judge Maqubela was a source of vision for the sector, setting the agenda that determined public support, consensus and shared claim and ownership of our collective work. He helped the NHC to imagine its current and future role within the disciplined framework of the department. Clinical in approach and meticulous in execution, he has set a good example for younger heritage practitioners and emerging policy-makers.
Today is an occasion to express our deep and sincere appreciation of his unwavering drive to serve our people. He inspired courage for the NHC to venture in ambitious projects that sought to make a mark in the revival of the African identity, social cohesion and democratic transformation.
Imbued with the values of an African democratic society, he refused to be a symbolic and ceremonial figure. Many times he was witnessed rolling his sleeves to be part of the grassroots programmes of the NHC. We will retain him in our national memory, for he has left indelible footprints, challenging other generations to emulate the best out of his life experiences. He has laid a firm basis for the continued protection and conservation of our heritage resources.
Judge Maqubela will be fondly remembered as a man who embraced outstanding values and principles. His wise counsel will resonate in our memory for a long time to come.
To his family and friends, a gentle giant has departed, please accept our sincere condolences. We also treasured him as one of us. Let us remember him for his compassion, humanitarianism and the values of Ubuntu he espoused without fail. He has left an indelible mark on our history and our heritage. We shall pick up the baton and pledge to continue to develop our arts and heritage and build a peoples' culture.
May his soul rest in peace!
Lala Ngoxolo Rhoyi!
