One of the issues I raised during my meeting with the new Executive Mayor, Lynn Pannall, was that Mogale City is not honouring and celebrating its heroes and sheroes – dead and alive. But that’s a topic for another day.
I learned of the passing away of Rodney Rapulane Tsholetsane on social media. The announcement was made by one Don Makatile, a journalist friend, on Facebook. Tsholetane’s passing on has shocked and disturbed me.
I must say that I had no personal relationship with Bra Rodney (as most people called him) until three years ago. In 2013, I was doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law and struggling with my assignment. I was then referred to him by a friend. When I contacted him, he was more than happy to help me with my assignment.
Bra Rodney was a staunch Catholic and ex-teacher. He was also a labour consultant and part-time commissioner at the CCMA. But he was well-known for his activism, and was detained for his political involvement and spent time on Robben Island. He was also a former councillor.
He was soft-spoken and down to earth. He was also intelligent and broad-minded. What I liked the most was that he was not argumentative but assertive. A community developer, he listened more than he talked.
He served as chairperson on the board of Basadi Pele (meaning ‘women first’), which is an organisation advocating women’s issues located in Kagiso Extension 12. He worked with Leon and Tersia Wessels at Basadi Pele. He also offered his services on labour matters free of charge in the same organisation.
Bra Rod co-authored a book known as Rivonia Trialist. I have tried to get the book but to no avail. It seems the authors only printed a few copies. I only read the book review done by Nkosana Zali a few years ago.
It was not easy to get hold of Bra Rodney, because he was a busy man. The last time I saw him, he had lost weight, but he was jolly and all smiles. And I was hoping to see him soon. It was not to be. Rest in peace, Bra Rod!
