Manzi Mashatile
My Journey with Manzi
I met Manzi for the first time in 1980 when we were both students at Alexandra High School (previously known as Roman Catholic School. I finished my high school years in 1982 and at that time was actively involved in the struggle for better education and joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and later the Alexandra Youth Congress (AYCO). Owing to the active involvement in struggle I ended up in detention from 1985 to 1989.
We met again with Manzi in 1989 when I was released from prison. We started living together, but only got married on the 4th September in 1994. Although we have lived together for 31 years, I have known Manzi now for 40 years. Among the Trustees here today, there are few who can claim to knowing her better than me, except for Ausi Queen, Palesa and Thabiso.
Manzi was full of love, supportive and caring. She always called me Mogatso. The day she calls me Paul I knew something was wrong! She was a woman of integrity, more than the word itself! I don’t think Manzi knew how to lie. Integrity par excellence.
Manzi as a mother
A good mother indeed, not just to Palesa and Thabiso, but to all children around her, Tinyiko, Mpho, Mpumi, Tshepo, Neo, Binkana, Popo and many of my siblings children, most of whom had the opportunity to live with us. They were taught how to clean their rooms, clean the house and make sure everything is in order. All the children who lived with us were also taught how to cook properly. Manzi was the best cook I ever met. Those of you who have had the opportunity to have a meal at our home will testify to what I am saying.
Manzi was very supportive to the children and their schooling. Most of our sibling’s children were taken care of by her. She would pay school fees, buy school uniforms, check reports, attend parents’ meetings and make sure that all of them have all other necessities to be successful. In this room we have Palesa our daughter who has completed her Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Wits Business School and Thabiso our son has also successfully completed his BCom in Accounting at University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2017. Tinyiko my son also received a lot of support when him and Thabiso were at UCT where he studied for Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Philosophy and Mathematics and he is left with two half courses to complete his studies.
Mpumi my brother’s daughter has completed her Bachelor of Commerce, Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Wits University, Bachelor of Economics Science Honours at Wits University. She is currently writing Actuarial Board Exams with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK.
Popo has completed his Medical studies in Cuba after six years and doing his final courses at Wits University and will complete his studies next year 2021. Manzi was proud of these achievements!
Mpho, Tinyiko’s cousin who spent many years with all of us on holidays when they were all young has also completed his Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) and is also doing articles with Mncedisi Ndlovu and Sedumedi (MNS) Law Firm.
Manzi the pillar of Mashatile and Seemela families
Manzi was the pillar of our two families. She always brought the two families together during Christmas and New Year holidays, and many other family functions. She loved her Mom Nombulelo (Toma) and her mother-in-law Nomvula (Magogo) very dearly. Every week she would visit Magogo in Pretoria and buy her groceries and other essentials. Like-wise she would visit Toma in Alexandra and buy her most of the essentials she needed. She would also take them shopping to buy clothes and get them gifts. Manzi would not miss Mother’s Day to take them out for shopping and dining.
When she was not visiting them, she would be on the phone with them chatting and laughing and saying her famous phrase “Ke di thibang thibang” she would laugh exuding lots of love!
Manzi the business woman
Manzi ventured into business at a young age. Shortly after she left his school she started her first business which was a Beauty salon in Rosebank. She later went to work for another Beauty salon, Giovanni Batista Hair Care in Killarney Mall. During this period Manzi continued her studies through part-time and correspondence, including Management courses with Damelin College. She then moved on to work for Edgars in Balfour Park, where she was later promoted to be a Manager of the store.
Havin energy to run her own business Manzi went back to start her own Beauty salon again and roped in her daughter Palesa to be a partner and the Beauty salon was known as Bontlelicious named after our granddaughter Bontle. Manzi also started Mdumo Investment company with Bridgman Sithole, Dennis Beea, Pat Banda, Dupree Vilakazi, her friend Noli Mboweni and Baba Gibson Thula (Noli’s father). She later also ventured into construction.
As my responsibilities increased in the ANC and Government, Manzi slowed down in her business ventures and started focusing a lot on family commitments. Focusing on family commitments was still as busy as being in business. She became the pillar of our home. She attended to everything that needed attention. Bought everything that needed to be bought and was also an interior décor for our home.
Today Thabiso and I are sometimes struggling especially when we want specific things in the house. We don’t quite know what is where!
Manzi the lady of fashion
Manzi was fashionable, always well dressed and liked to go out shopping. She would not go out without bringing back a pair of shoes, t-shirts, or something beautiful.
I was the biggest beneficiary of this because she would always bring me something, t-shirts, socks etc. I am in trouble now because I don’t know where she bought most of these beautiful t-shirts for me, I am told it’s somewhere in Hyde Park in Sandton.
Manzi also enjoyed travelling a lot, both in the country and overseas. We spent a lot of time travelling for holidays with the children and sometimes just us and friends.
Manzi the religious woman
Every Sunday Manzi would go to Church without fail. Everyone who is in our home on Sundays would not escape going to church. She would also call her sister Queen or her mother Toma to go to church with her because they are nearby in Alexandra Township.
Thabiso also knew that when he is back from Cape town, Sunday is church day. I am the only one that she gave up on because I had a lot of excuses. I will always say Mogatso there is an NEC meeting or on other ANC activities taking place. Sunday was not just church day, she made it a day to go out with family and friends. Every Sunday after church she took everyone with her to lunch in Sandton or Montecasino and they would dine till late in the afternoon. Going to church became part of a lovely family outing.
Manzi would always bring me something from the restaurant when they get back home. Sometimes she would call me to enquire whether I would like a steak, oxtail or seafood. Although I was not the regular church goer I benefitted as well from the lovely Sunday outings.
Conclusion
I am excited today that I will be working with all of you to honour this incredible woman and make her live forever in our hearts and memories.
There is Chinese saying that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” Today is our first step of our journey of a thousand miles.
As we establish this Manzi Mashatile Foundation, not only will we honour her but will continue her legacy of caring, loving and giving to those in need. As we begin this journey we will be seeking to improve the lives of many who are less privileged. We will empower young men and women who are desperately seeking access to education and make some contribution to improve the lives of people in the townships and rural areas especially elderly women from poor households.
