Tribute to a grand master

He grew up in Petit and later moved to Tembisa, where he demonstrated his natural leadership skills in different activities.

Soccer

Esau played soccer for the then Baagi Football Club, which later changed its name to Golden Eagles. At the same time, he played Judo, and many Baagi players ended up playing soccer and judo because of his influence.

Judo and karate

Sensei Esau “Snaar” Tlotleng was a judoka par excellence in the then Transvaal. He participated in a number of judo tournaments in South Africa.

He was promoted to be in the panel of the then Transvaal Judo Association. He was rated among the best judokas, such as the late Benny Kekana who represented the Northern Transvaal Judo Association.

He was noticed by the giants of the South African Martial Arts industry and was eventually elected unopposed to the position of organising secretary for the South African Budo Association, which was led by the late Saint Madlala.

After Saint Madlala’s retirement, Tlotleng was the natural choice to take over as SABA president.

He led the Tembisa Budo Association for many years and produced many karatekas and judokas during his reign.

Tlotleng held a black belt in judo and a brown belt in Tenshinkan Karate style, graded by the late Jimmy Manthata in karate.

He was taught judo by Sensei Gabriel “ Oom Rhee ” Talane, who stays in Daveyton.

At some point in time he was asked by both the Tembisa netball and basketball teams to lead them when they were experiencing problems.

Thusanang Men’s Club

In 1977, Tlotleng started the Thusanang Men’s Club, as a men’s wing of the then powerful Thusanang Women’s Club.

Young people in Tembisa immediately approached Tlotleng with a request to assist them in forming the Thusanang Youth Club. He obliged and assisted in its establishment and mentoring.

The Thusanang Men’s Club is still alive and strong after 37 years in Tembisa.

Tlotleng departed this world while still being the president of the club. He was elected to the position year after year.

He insisted on having elections every year so that those who might be ready to take over could do so.

But he was clear and firm on developing second and third layers of leadership in Thusanang, hence the many leaders and societies which are an off-shoot of Thusanang today.

In the early 1980s, he grouped some of the younger people who were part of the Thusanang Youth Club into a powerful baroque (Isidodana music) music group called Big Six.

This group became a household name in the gospel music cycles in the then Transvaal.

Eulogy

February 25 was the day Tlotleng died, after a long struggle with his health.

The common message from people, after hearing the news of his death was, “His legacy lives on in us”.

The martial arts master was laid to rest over the weekend.