Ms Tsakani Ketziah Mokoki, who had taught at Makonde Primary School for many years, passed away peacefully at the ripe age of 81 at her home in Thohoyandou on Tuesday, 16 August.
News of her death has left a great sadness among those who knew her, including two of her former pupils, Prof Khathutshelo Nephawe and Dr Tshilidzi Madzivhandila.
Prof Nephawe said he vividly remembered the contribution Mokoki had made to his academic career. "It was tough in those days because there were no crèches to prepare us for school. We arrived at school blank, and Ms Mokoki had to teach us the basics from scratch, like how to hold a pencil. I now realize that teaching at the foundation phase is the most difficult. However, Ms Mokoki did her job with passion because teaching was her calling," he said.
What stood out for Dr Madzivhandila the most about Ms Mokoki was that she loved cleanliness and applied strict discipline. He said he would never forget it as long as he lived.
Mokoki's daughter, Helen, said that although the family members were in deep mourning, they were consoled by the fact that her mother had touched so many lives during her lifetime. "She was not only our mother but a mother to hundreds of people as she left a mark in the education fraternity. We thank everyone for their messages of support and family visits during this difficult time," she said.
Tsakani Ketziah Mokoki was born at Makonde village on 4 September 1940. She received her primary education at Makonde and Georgenholtz, after which she proceeded to the Vendaland Institute for her secondary education, where she obtained her primary education certificate in 1960. She started working as an educator at Lukau Primary School in 1961. Over the course of her teaching career, she taught at various schools, but it was at Makonde Primary School that she spent most of her time before she retired in 2000. While teaching, she obtained her diploma in education and later also her advanced diploma in education.
Mokoki is survived by two daughters, three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two brothers and her twin sister. She was laid to rest in Thohoyandou on Saturday, 20 August.