Local chief remembered for his love for the community.
“When HIV/AIDS was ravaging our society, my father decided to help fight the scourge and stereotypes by educating others about the virus."
Kwa-Thema- Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of the late Kwa-Thema Ndebele chief, Eliajah Skosana, on Tuesday.
The chief, also affectionately called mkhulu, was remembered for being a pillar of the community of Kwa-Thema and Ekurhuleni and his role in preserving the Ndebele heritage.
The 89-year-old died last Thursday after a short illness.
His frail age did not derail him from his fight to see local schools offering Ndebele as a subject in their classes, as well as the fight against HIV and Aids.
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One of the schools that agreed to add a Ndebele class was Mosi Primary and Secondary School in Daveyton.
To celebrate the African heritage, Skosana held annual heritage celebrations, which allowed people from different cultural groups to showcase their heritages.
He was working with the University of South Africa and Venda to compile the history of the Ndebele nation.
Skosana started his educational journey at Bazali Bantu School in Delmas. He then worked at PG Glass and later PFG Peacanton and Pilot Engineering as a foreman before he retired in 1986.
His daughter, Zodwa Skosana, said her father joined forces with his family members to start a burial society and was appointed president of the society.
He was crowned as the Ndebele nkosana (prince) in 2002 and chief in 2007.
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“When HIV/Aids was ravaging our society, my father decided to help fight the scourge and stereotypes by educating others about the virus.
“In 2007, he was appointed as the chairperson of HIV/Aids Council in Ekurhuleni and used his role of facilitating initiation schools since 1971 to educate men about the virus,” she said.
He was also a board member of the Benoni Museum.
Mkhulu got married to his late wife, Maria Mawula Skosana, in 1958 and they were blessed with 11 children. He is survived by eight children, 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
His memorial service will be was on Saturday at Kwa-Thema.
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