Kwa-Thema – A local artist recently completed murals at the Kwa-Thema Civic Centre that highlight the stories of three women who made their mark in different fields.

Jabu Buthelezi (42) is a seasoned artist who has spent most of his life exploring different forms of art, from printmaking and tattoos to mural painting.

The murals celebrate Hilda Tloubatla, a musician and member of the Mahotella Queens, soccer player Eudy Simelane and political activist Margaret Gazo.

Buthelezi’s passion for art began in primary school, when his teacher encouraged him.

“My English teacher, Madi Phala, who was also a visual artist, started me off in primary school,” he said.

He later furthered his artistic journey at Artist Proof Studio in Newtown and Vega’s Imagination Lab in Randburg.

At just 12 years old, Buthelezi completed his first commissioned mural outside a creche in Kwathema.

From there, his work continued to grow, including a Kwikot factory workshop in Dunswart and several murals commissioned through the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture in Ekurhuleni.

His previous projects include murals at Germiston Lake, Springs Theatre and Germiston Stadium.

Buthelezi said his journey as a mural artist wasn’t driven by one particular source of inspiration, but developed naturally as he pursued art and opportunities.

“No real inspiration, just an organic progression as an artist and commercial gain for survival from projects that came my way at the time,” he explained.

The latest murals carry a strong historical message, focusing on women from Kwathema who stood for something and became iconic in their respective spaces.

“Tloubatla was recognised for her contribution to music as a member of the Mahotella Queens, while Simelane was a talented soccer player whose life was tragically cut short after she became a victim of a homophobic hate crime,” Buthelezi said.

Gazo was recognised for her role as a political activist and for being among the women who marched to the Union Buildings in protest against the apartheid government.

Buthelezi became involved in the project through his long-standing relationship with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, where he has worked on projects since 2005.

“I brought in my experience of coordinating, leading and managing a project from the number of projects I did over the years,” he said.

He worked with Pat Sithole, Dipuo Sithole and Mandla Kunene. The team completed the murals in about seven days, going from submitting the designs for approval to putting the final drop of paint on the walls.

“We had rain that week and limited access to material storage since offices were closed on weekends. We worked around those challenges and made it work,” Buthelezi said.

Buthelezi said the murals are more than just colourful artwork on public walls. He hopes they will encourage residents to learn more about the women featured and help preserve their stories for future generations.

“I hope that the artwork sparks curiosity and preserves history in graphic images on the wall. We want to instil pride in the citizens of Kwathema as they learn about these impactful women from their neighbourhood,” he said.