PUDEMO TAKES OVER PHILILE MASANGO’S FUNERAL

KALANGA – During the early fall, as the sun moves lower in the southern sky, sunrise  comes later, and the sun sets earlier.

It was a little bit darker as the sky had not cleared up completely when the casket of deceased journalist, scholar, political activist and sportswoman, Philile Masango was taken out of the mourning house to the tent where a vigil preceding her well attended funeral was held.

The funeral of the daughter of deceased Solomon V. Masango, the-ex senior member of the then Ubombo Ranches Sugar Company and respected Big Bend member of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), was held at Mvutshini, KaLanga, east of Eswatini, yesterday morning. Notably, things had not changed much when it was carried by family members to the family graveside, but it was a different kettle of fish when the casket was brought to there at 6:34am. The sun rose over the Lubombo Mountains as if to bid goodbye to the woman whose voice was developed in Heaven for the electronic media – the then true darling of Eswatini TV, Kaya FM in South Africa and Wits Radio Academy where she served as news editor.

Heads lowered, and cheeks pressed against the cold, the relatives, friends and community members, who all along had maintained composure by hiding their sadness, were suddenly struck by the moment of reality when the funeral parlours pressed the casket-lowering device.

Just before they pressed it, it must be said that a family representative asked  members of  PUDEMO to say a few words in a respectable manner.
Penuel Malinga, a long time serving member of the political party, first paid tribute to the fallen heroine, and later burst into a political song with a message to the deceased, telling her to offer their best wishes to the late Benedict ‘Didiza’ Tsabedze, Dominic Mngomezulu, and other founders of PUDEMO who passed away.

Malinga told the over 1 000 mourners that Masango was their member whose strength lied in global diplomacy as she served the movement in communicating with international organisations about its plight, positions or concerns.

She described her as a humble person who vigorously fought for the freedom of emaSwati from Tinkhundla system of government. Malinga conceded that many people were unaware that the deceased journalist was a freedom fighter.  He also likened her to a sweet potato plant that could only be recognised by its leaves, but there was an edible root vegetable beneath surface.

PUDEMO shirt on casket

As he was addressing the mourners, Malinga, a soccer coach, put a PUDEMO shirt on top of Masango’s casket. She was buried with it.
He said government was building beautiful police stations instead of upgrading the roads. He blasted government for keeping a rural dusty road network, saying there was highly disturbing dust at Masango’s community because government’s infrastructural priorities left a great deal to be desired.

A local netball team, which was sponsored by the former television personality and radiowoman, was also given an opportunity to pay their last respects to her. They sang a song dedicated her, saying they would have fond memories of her.

While PUDEMO continued singing political songs and chanting slogans, the netball team sang theirs, ‘Myekeleni aphumule’ (let her rest in peace). This particular song was composed for the funeral of slain businessman and soccer administrator Victor Gamedze, who was buried in January 2018 not too far from where the body of Masango was laid to rest yesterday morning.

son inconsolable

Observably, her son, Lekoko Moruthane, would actually need close attention, if not professional counselling, as the seven-year-old boy was seemingly finding it hard to accept his mother’s demise. He cried hysterically, and he would threaten to roll down on the ground, but family members and friends were on alert to hold him and comfort him. They brought some water for him to drink as he appeared to be losing his voice.

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