Since hearing of the death of my former school principal, Mr Thililelwi Nedambale, I have been struggling to write a eulogy, because I simply don't have the words to express the depth of my sadness. He has taught me to be strong in difficult situations and that is why I gathered enough courage to scribe this piece with tears running down my face.
It was in April 1986, while I was one of the passengers in a truck that was transporting us from a soccer match that, upon our arrival at Mukula village, we found a brand new green Ford Cortina bakkie which had overturned while also transporting players of Matangari High Aims from a soccer match in Tshirereke. Fortunately, no one had been seriously injured in the accident. A friend of mine, Patrick Tshinwamukovho, whispered to me: “This bakkie belongs to Mr Nedambale, the principal of Mphalaleni High School.” That was my first meeting Mr Nedambale.
In 1988, I enrolled for my Grade 11 at Mphalaleni High School. I was welcomed by the friendly, ever-smiling principal who also happened to be my Afrikaans teacher. The two Afrikaans poems that ring in my mind when I think of Mr Nedambale are Wespark and Gedagtes van die beseerde arbeider. Surely, he was the master of die Afrikaans taal.
I remember one evening while I was still a senior journalist for the Limpopo Mirror. My phone rang and the voice on the other side said: “It’s Mr Nedambale here, your former school principal. Please, come and cover the story of our student, Mpho Ratshilumela, who will represent Limpopo in the OR Tambo games in Port Elizabeth.” The following morning, I went to the school and covered the story. Apart from the story, we spent some time discussing the good moments we had had in class.
Shortly after attending his funeral at Matangari graveyard on Saturday, I went home and went through my archived documents. Fortunately, I found my Grade 11 school report, which has his neatly scribed signature with encouraging remarks on it: “Good work Dzebu, keep it up.” As an adamant traditionalist, I will always remember him for his love of musangwe, malende, tshikona and tshigombela.
I am tempted to agree fully with the late French poet, journalist, and novelist Anatole France, who said: “Good teachers impart good education. Great teachers groom their students to become leaders. Ordinary teachers direct us along the right path, but great teachers inspire us to seek our own path. They encourage us to discover our talents.” I am convinced that Mr Nedambale was a great teacher indeed.
Before I sign off, let me remind you of the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7 verse 1. It says: “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.” It is true, Mr Nedambale was a great man. His name will appear in a special chapter when the history of Vhembe education is written. I have no doubt that he has peacefully joined the eternal academic school of the late Prof MER Mathivha, Prof Victor Ralushai, E.S. Madima, WMD Phophi, Bob Marwala and Ailwei Rakhumba. May his soul rest in peace!
- Wilson Dzebu
Award winning journalist, Wilson Dzebu is a former journalist at Limpopo Mirror and is at present the communications manager of the Musina Municipality. He writes in his personal capacity.
