The well-known Thidiela family is in mourning. One of their family members, Mr Jeremiah Thidiela (64), is no more.
He was born at Vhufuli village and, according to his younger brother, Mr David Thidiela, Jeremiah succumbed to a long illness in the Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg last Monday.
Mr David Thidiela, the Black Leopards chairman, revealed that his elder brother went to search for employment in Johannesburg in the late sixties. He worked for several companies before retiring two years ago. It was during his stay in Honeydew, Johannesburg, that he became one of the strong supporters of Kaizer Chiefs.
Even after his younger brother, David, had taken over as the new owner of Black Leopards FC, Jeremiah did not migrate from the Chiefs' kraal to support the family business. Instead, he remained a strong supporter of Chiefs, even at the times when Lidoda Duvha played against the Amakhosi.
He will be laid to rest at the Vhufuli cemetery tomorrow (Saturday) morning.The Kaizer Chiefs supporters' co-ordinator, Mr Cecil Motaung, is expected to address the mourners at the funeral service.