SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE AZANIAN LIONESS, MANI MOLEFE – RIP

Mani Molefe will be laid to rest in Soweto on Wednesday October 22. Mani could easily have resigned herself to live in the shadow of her sister Mmagauta Molefe. Instead, she cast her own shade.

She took to community development enrolling for a six-month Ubuntu Social Development Institute (USDI) Course at Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre (WFC) at whose completion Ish Mkhabela, one of the directors at WFC did the unthinkable – inviting a non-speaker behind the shadow’s person like me as a guest speaker. I had prided myself more as a listener than a speaker. On that occasion, I stumbled my way to the finishing point. Mani was one of the graduates.

Done with school from AZASM, (Azanian Students Movement) when it was dangerous just to belong to AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organization), she was part of cohort of character-shaping workshops at St Hilda’s Anglican Church in Senaoane, Soweto. Little did we know how those workshops were in preparation of the people we became to be black for this country in a very affirming sense with Bishop Jo Seoka’s revolutionary pastoral guiding presence and open doors forever open for worship and conscientisation.

Mani is also one of the graduates of that political upbringing of St Hilda’s.

Post school saw her begin working life at Skotaville, Methodist Church in Braamfontein during Bishop Dandala’s tenure. While an employee at the Methodist she was trusted with stakeholder engagement functions in Dandala’s office.

Highlight came with the signing of the National Peace Accord on September 14, 1991. I was in the list of the invitees. Part of the ceremony on the launch of the National Peace Accord involved releasing white pigeons that flapped beautifully into the sky to disappear in the horizon.

I did not miss the moment to tease: Why was there no thought for black pigeons? Mine came across sounding like no peaceful question to raise within hearing shot of ecclesiastical company. As irritated priestly stares turned on us, Mani could easily have denied me for career limiting bad ungovernable Zim Zim company to have been there by her accreditation. She did not, but not without giving me a stern look no less than saying behave yourself.

Then she proceeded to Parliament in the office of Dr Frene Ginwala, first woman to become Speaker of post-apartheid Parliament, the mandate being to bring Parliament to the people. She was forever on the move.

From what is reputed as the Mother City, she was thereafter off to Mpumalanga Provincial Government in the Office of the then Premier Thabang Makwetla.

On returning back home in Gauteng she was in the picture of AZAPO Veterans convened by the organisation’s President Nelvis Qekema.

The last time I met was on the occasion to mark renowned liberation cultural activist in our midst in the BC tradition 90th birthday at Soweto Theatre, Jabulani Soweto on July 18, 2025. Molefe Pheto is the beloved icon honoured on the day. He took ill en route to the event. Pheto died August 1, 2025. He was buried August 16, 2025.

0n the day of celebration of Pheto’s artistic feat, Mani was there in her usual stylish gear. That was the last I saw her. I received news of her passing Thursday October 16, 2025 from elder sister Mmagauta.

At the height of death squad – sponsored UDF/ANC -AZAPO internecine conflict that intensified in 1985, countrywide, there was a Jewish emissary called Shim Shaun who pursued Mandla Mtsweni and I to visit Israel.

The aim is clearer now than then albeit not without suspicion.

To get him off our backs we recommend the discerning Mom Joyce Kalaote, the prayer warrior Martha Nkoana and never say die Black Consciousness adherent Mani Molefe. The rationale for the trip, by Shaun’s motivation, was training on cooperatives.

To the credit of all, Kalaote, Nkoana and Molefe, none came back mouthing Israel propaganda which was the initial intention on the part of the Israel government emissary.

Thirty-five years later, political party representatives in a ‘democratic’ government in the year 2025 from the DA, PA and ACDP, invited on the trip, came back boldly stating in unison: There is no apartheid in Israel; there is no genocide in Israel.

Mani along with elder women leaders with whom she had travelled did not fall for the trap of falsehoods.

Peace to Mani’s soul.