A mayoral memorial filled with jubilation
Many arrived during the day at the late Mayor Patrick Naga Lipudi's public memorial to pay their respects.
The 17th of January was a day for mournful tears, longing gazes and happy remembrance. While some held sorrow in their eyes, most of the few hundred people who showed up for the late Mayor Naga Patrick Lipudi’s public memorial were jubilant.
When asked why they were smiling and laughing the entire time, a group of women clad in ANC gear told the News that, “We are not sad; we are celebrating a life. We are celebrating the Executive Mayor’s life”.
It was this sentiment that carried the crowd and the speakers through the day. This, simply put, is what will be remembered of Mayor Lipudi; not despair, but elation, for he was a man who was never without a smile, and always had a caring hand to lend the people in the Mogale City district who needed his help the most.
Droves of people arrived during the morning to honour the late Mayor and filled an events-tent on the Johanna Botha Rugby Stadium field. Just after 10am, Mogale City Council Speaker, Councillor Noluthando Mangole opened the ceremony and noted, “In as much as we’ll be celebrating the life well lived, we need to celebrate that in an orderly manner with dignity”.
Many more departments and groups were represented, each having something amiable to say about the Mayor.
They were: The Progressive Professional Forum, various police departments, South African Local Government Association, Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union, South African Municipal Workers’ Union, Parliamentary Constituency Office, African National Congress Youth League, African National Congress Women’s League and Veterans League, Congress of South African Trade Unions and many more were all well represented.
Mayor Lipudi’s funeral service will also be held at the Johanna Botha Stadium at about 7am on 21 January followed by his burial at Kagiso Cemetery.
