A wall of remembrance was unveiled in honour of philanthropist and traditional leader Professor Lesiba Ezekiel Matsaung (Kgoshi Matsuokwane III) on Saturday in Musina. Apart from being an academic, Prof Matsaung was also a reverend of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA).
The wall of remembrance is the brainchild of the Musina URCSA where Matsaung spent 45 years ministering the word of God. A freedom fighter in his own right, Matsaung had many brushes with the former Apartheid government. Besides being ordained as reverend in 1977, Prof Matsaung served as senior lecturer and head of education management and sciences at the University of Limpopo. He also established shelters for vulnerable and unaccompanied children in Musina.
Matsaung passed away at the age of 73 in January 2020, after a short illness.
The chairperson of the Musina URCSA Church Council, Mr Jacob Matakanye, said no other way of honouring Prof Matsaung could be found than erecting such a wall of remembrance. "He was a preacher and freedom fighter who touched many lives here in Musina. He deserved the highest honour and we decided to do something that will be there for the next generations to come. We decided to erect this wall of remembrance inside the church premises, because this is where he dedicated his life for the freedom of all South Africans," said Matakanye.
The moderator of the Northern Synod of the URCSA, Reverend Dr Raletsatsi Ezekiel Moraka, commended the Musina Church Council for erecting the wall of remembrance. He said Prof Matsaung deserved the eminence because he had served God whole-heartedly and with passion. "He left a wonderful legacy for the church and he was never shaken because he understood the constitution of our church. His critical role in fighting for justice in our country should always remind us of his strong belief in equality," Moraka said.
Prof Matsaung's daughter, Ms Mantebele Elsina Mabyane, said the family members were very pleased with this high honour bestowed on their late father. "We thank everyone involved in this historic initiative. This clearly demonstrates that our father touched many lives in his lifetime. It is great that the wall of remembrance has been erected inside the church yard, where its safety is guaranteed."
Veteran journalist and former City Press editor Mr Mathatha Tsedu said Prof Matsaung had been his constant source for stories when he had still been a journalist. He said that Matsaung had understood the power of media and how it could help to free the oppressed. "Musina was in the eye of the struggle storm, and we extensively covered stories on community protests. He was a journalist's dream contact, and I was very fortunate that he was always available whenever I needed him. It is indeed a privilege to have known such a man of complete commitment to truth and justice, and for him to have trusted me by assisting me was an honour."