Deputy chairperson of Limpopo Traditional Leaders passes away

The deputy chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo, Khosi Vho-Vusani Netshimbupfe (62), passed away in a private hospital in Gauteng on Monday, after a short illness.

He was a well-known juror, who worked as a magistrate for 17 years in Thohoyandou, Vuwani and Tshitale. He also worked as the chairperson of the initiation schools' task team.

When the Multiparty Negotiations Forum (MPNF) took over the work of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) in February 1993, Netshimbupfe attended the negotiation process as advisor of the then Transvaal Traditional Leaders. When the transitional executive council (TEC) was established to regulate the period until elections in 1994, he was elected as a councillor of the transitional government.

Netshimbupfe was installed as Khosi of Tshimbupfe on 20 December 1991, and after the first democratic elections, he became an ANC member of parliament for five years. When he returned from the national parliament in 1999, he worked as a senior prosecutor in the Lowveld area of Mopani, based in Giyani, until 2001.

Thovhele Vho-Toni Mphephu Ramabulana expressed his condolences to the Netshimbupfe family. Mphephu said Khosi- Netshimbupfe had served the area with diligence. "He will be remembered for his hard work," said Mphephu. He added that Netshimbupfe had contributed a great deal to the functioning of the Tshimbupfe territorial council. "He was a selfless visionary and dedicated leader of people. We will always remember him for his hard work, commitment and dedication," he said.

The family spokesperson, Mr Pokie Netshimbupfe, said it was a huge shock for them to lose such a hard worker. His death came at a time when he still had a huge role to play in the development of the area, he said. "He was such an experienced traditional leader and we expected him to assist in training the new chiefs."

Khosi Netshimbupfe’s funeral service will take place on Saturday at his house. It will start at 06:00. He will be buried at Tshiendeulu Tshavhakololo, Manobi. He is survived by his wife and seven children.

Date:21 June 2013

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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