The Lion of Limpopo is no more
It is said that some things have to be seen to be believed.
I could not believe my ears when a friend of mine phoned to inform me about the death of Minster of Public Service and Administration, Mr Collins Chabane.
I could not believe it until I saw the news on the television.
Even though Chabane was an astute politician, philosopher and a pioneer in the then Northern Transvaal, I knew him as a musician.
Like any progressive African child growing up under the dreaded Apartheid regime, I heard about him as a young boy.
His name was always on everybody’s lips when it came to freedom fighters.
Like Mbulaheni Malada, alias Comrade Kenny Dambuza, African youngsters regarded them as their heroes, and many crossed our borders after being inspired by their never-say-die attitude and bravery.
I met Chabane shortly after he was appointed as an MEC for Environment and Tourism in Limpopo.
By then, I was working as a news compiler and newsreader for the SABC in Polokwane.
As he grew up in Xikundu, which is approximately 40 kilometres from Thohoyandou, he was fluent in Tshivenda.
He always passed by to talk to us, and most importantly, to encourage us to do more and cover stories without fear or favour.
The moment of truth came when he arrived to perform with his band called The Movement. The band plays Marimba music, which is a mixture of African traditional music with a Mbira or finger piano flavour.
Journalists were surprised to see the MEC jumping onto the stage and, like the legendary Zimbabwean musician Thomas Mapfumo, he played Mbira with precision. But when playing his harmonica, presenters, journalists and managers joined him on stage.
From that day on, we had a close relationship until he went to parliament and the distance made it impossible to meet nearly every week.
But I attended most of his shows in Limpopo, and believe you me, Chabane was a creative and talented musician.
May his soul rest in Peace.
