By Masilo Malakwane
QWAWQA–The president of Dikwankwetla party of South Africa Moeketsi Lebesa has described death of Popi Julia Lebesana,69, who died at Mediclinic in Bethlehem on June 17,as a great loss to the party and residents of Maluti-a-phofung local municipality.
Lebesa was speaking at the funeral of Lebesana held at Phuthaditjhaba multipurpose hall on Thursday.
He said Lebesana served the community of the municipality with humanity and distinction while describing her death as a great shock as they had hoped that she would make a full recovery.
“PJ was a true example of a real seasoned politician. She was amongst the entrepreneur of note, she was amongst the first to have started the informal trading in Qwa Qwa. It saddens me that someone who made such a great contribution to the growth and development of Qwa Qwa is going to be laid to rest under lockdown restrictions, which prevents a gathering of all of those who would have loved to come to say their goodbyes.”
Lebesa further stated that Lebesana demise at the epoch of political development leaves a huge gap in the future of human and political landscape.
The Premier of the Free State Sefora Ntombela and her husband, an ANC NEC member Madala Ntombela were amongst the distinguished guests who highly praised the Lebesana for her role in the politics of the Free State.
Premier said Lebesana respected other politicians even by those from the opposition parties because “she never let political differences interfere with her job of ensuring that the community of Maluti a Phofung got what they deserve which is service delivery. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and colleagues, her untimely passing leaves a huge gap in the political sphere and the council of MAP as a whole.”
Former Sabc COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who knew Malebesana since he was a journalist, described him an extraordinary human being who always had the citizens’ interest at heart irrespective of their political affiliations. “I will miss her contributions at the development of Qwa qwa because she had a great understanding of people’s issues and a wealth of experience in local government.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Mayor of Maluti a Phofung Masetjhaba Mosia Lakaje explained the civil funeral category that was bestowed upon Malebesane since she became the first councilor to have received it.
“During my time as a councilor in the municipality, we took a resolution to employ our council members with this category funerals but that was not implemented then. We are now at least managed to have implemented during the passing of Cllr Malebesane because Cllrs served the citizens with dedication and commitment” she expounded.
