CREMATED JAN SITHOLE FINALLY LAID TO REST

LUYENGO - Finally, Jan Sithole, who was cremated, has been laid to rest.

His final send-off was held at his home at Mdonjane in Luyengo yesterday morning and political activists, mainly members of the late unionist’s political party, the Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA), turned it into a political rally.

Most of the members of the political party, which was founded by the late Sithole, came clad in red T-shirts with their late president’s photo and red barrettes which had an emblem of SWADEPA. 

Sithole died from a sharp back pain while in the neighbouring South Africa on September 11, 2020. A week later, his family organised a memorial service and he was cremated.

Mourners

During the short service which was held before the final send-off of the late former Manzini North Member of Parliament (MP), political songs were sung by the party member who led the mourners to the graveyard carrying a SWADEPA banner with Sithole’s portrait.

 Again, at the graveyard, they sang political songs, which included ‘senzeni na’ and ‘Zizojik’izinto’ among others and they toyi-toyied while their late leader’s casket was being lowered into his final place of rest.

Meanwhile, SWADEPA Acting President David Mhlanga, whose substantive position is that of first vice president of the political party, said they would continue to demand multi-party democracy during the 2023 national elections.

He alleged emaSwati were suffering under the current system of governance, Tinkhundla. He said Sithole had fought fiercely for human and workers’ rights.

On the same note, Silwayiphi Sithole, who spoke on behalf of the Sitholes, said the late SWADEPA president’s life touched so many people. He said this was because he lived to defend the rights of the people.

Work

In turn, he said people loved him for his work as he was also a problem solver, who was against violence. 

On the other hand, Sanele, one of the late Sithole’s daughters, who spoke on behalf of the children, said their father loved them and they loved him too. 

She said before their father died, he got a chance to have a one-on-one session with the family members, including his children and he told each and every one of them his wish for them. 

“He fought his fight and our goal is to achieve what he (Sithole) wanted for us,” Sanele said. She added that their father played his part, but they felt like he left them too soon.  

Thereafter, Elijah Manana, who spoke on behalf of the Mdonjane Chiefdom, said they had lost a hard worker. He said the chiefdom knew Sithole as he was one of the community members who were rendering services to the chiefdom. “Bekahlehla,” he said in vernacular.

The pastors, who preached during the service and funeral, urged Sithole’s family, his children to be specific to cherish their father’s tomb and take care of it.

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