People from the Vhembe region once again proved their goodwill and willingness to give their support in times of need the past week, when a few Good Samaritans offered to help the family of the late Bishop Collen Mufamadi of the Redemption Apostolic Church in Gogobole, so that he could be laid to rest with dignity.
Mufamadi (38) and another church member, Rihone Tshivhombela, tragically drowned while he was baptising new members at the Phiphidi Dam on 10 November. The bishop was well respected for his dedication to taking young nyaope addicts into his own home to help rehabilitate them.
The grieving family, however, could not afford the expenses of a casket and tombstone to give their beloved a dignified burial, and this was where the Marindi Funeral Scheme, well-known businessman Mr Reuben Rambado and community members stepped in to see to it that Mufamadi received a proper funeral.
The managing director of Marindi Funeral Scheme, Mr Kaizer Marindi, donated a coffin and tombstone to the indigent family, while Rambado, with the help of other community members, saw to food and refreshments for the mourners.
Thousands of community members, close friends, church members and relatives from the region showed up to pay their last respects during Mufamadi's funeral service last Sunday (20 November). He was buried at Ramantsha cemetery.
The tent that was erected at his house was packed. Not a tear was shed as the family had requested that it be a celebration of a life well lived.
Marindi said: "When I received the sad news about the family's struggle to bury their loved one, I was so touched. I could also feel their frustration and pain. In the rural communities, where the unemployment rate is so high, many people have it difficult in times of death. Our old men and women end up borrowing money from loan sharks, who keep their social grant cards and withdraw the instalments until their credit is closed. I didn't want this family to go through that kind of a situation."
Mufamadi's older brother, Calvin, was short of words to express his sincere gratitude to Marindi and Rambado, and everyone else who had offered to help.