Hundreds of mourners from across the country converged at Mandala on 27 July to pay their last respects to Elias Mathivha (72), a former psychiatric nurse and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Africa (ELCSA). Mathivha passed away at Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria on 18 July after a long illness.
The funeral service saw attendance from government officials, traditional leaders, religious leaders, community structures, former nurses, and many community members. Mathivha had a long career, working for 33 years as a psychiatric nurse at the Donald Fraser Hospital before his retirement. He was actively involved in community partnerships with the traditional councils around Vhembe and initiated the building of houses for mental health care patients through partnerships with the private sector.
Reverend Muthumuni Tshivhase of the ELCSA encouraged everyone present to follow the example set by Mathivha. "We worked together for a long time, and I can attest that Mathivha was a selfless and trusted senior member of this church, who worked tirelessly for God," he said.
On behalf of the children, his third daughter, Ms Tendai Mathivha, expressed the family's grief. "My father's death is a blow to the whole family. He loved us all and provided us with all the necessities. Our hearts are saddened, and we are just drawing strength from the comforts we are getting from the church," she added.