Mathibestad Community in Mourning – Again

The village of Mathibestad is engulfed in sorrow following the death of their local chief, Kgosi Lepono Jacob Mathibe, on Saturday, June 22, 2024. This tragic event comes just four weeks after the passing of his wife, Mmakgosi Ankie Johanna Mathibe, on May 29, 2024.

According to the royal spokesperson, Lacey Mathibe, the burial of Mmakgosi Ankie had been postponed in the hope that Kgosi Lepono would recover in time to lay his wife to rest. Sadly, Kgosi Lepono passed away before he could fulfill this wish.

The double funeral for Kgosi Lepono and Mmakgosi Ankie is scheduled to take place at the Mathibestad royal cemetery on June 29, 2024, at 8:00 AM. The ceremony is expected to draw a large number of mourners from the village and beyond.

Moretele local municipality Mayor, Masango George Manyike, expressed his condolences to the royal family and the Bahwaduba tribe. “Our heartfelt condolences to the royal family, the Bahwaduba, and the Moretele community during this difficult time of mourning. The death of the two most powerful leaders in our village will leave scars that will take forever to heal. It is also a turning of an era where the highly respected leaders, parents, and community builders are no more. A great loss to all of us,” Manyike stated.

The usually bustling streets of Mathibestad have been subdued, with a palpable sense of grief evident among the villagers. The loss of Kgosi Lepono and Mmakgosi Ankie has cast a long shadow over the community, marking the end of an era of cherished leadership.

The entire village of Mathibestad, along with neighboring communities, is expected to come together to honor and remember the contributions of Kgosi Lepono and Mmakgosi Ankie, whose legacies will endure in the hearts and minds of the people they served.