Mourners bid farewell to former correctional services stalwart

FORMER regional commissioner of correctional services in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West (LMN), chief Watson “Dzudzanyani” Tshivhase (67) was laid to rest on Saturday at the Mianzwi sacred burial site (Zwiendeulu).

During his funeral, speakers described him as a strategic thinker, a brilliant visionary and one of the Tshivhase royal family’s great intellectuals.

“He filled large shoes and left deep tracks in the LMN region. He generously shared his knowledge, his expertise and his skills with officials of all ranks.

“Sorrow fills our hearts at this sad time, a sorrow that is deep and personal.

“Tshivhase has silently closed the door of this life and departed from us to go on his next spiritual journey,” Ruth Letsoalo, deputy regional commissioner of correctional services in the LMN region, said when she spoke at the funeral.

Letsoalo said Tshivhase, who also served as prison director of the Kutama-Sinthumule maximum-security prison in Makhado, had been an excellent leader to his people.

Tshivhase died on December 24 last year after a long illness. His funeral was attended by hundreds of mourners.

The Tshikona dance, which is danced when a Vhavenda chief is inaugurated or is buried, was also part of the funeral proceedings.

Family spokesperson, Lambani Tshivhase, said Tshivhase joined the correctional services in 1972.

He said Tshivhase had been arrested several times for violating the then Group Areas Act, which dictated where black people could work and live during the Apartheid era.

Tshivhase obtained several degrees from the University of Venda and a master’s degree from the University of Pretoria.

He majored in international politics and his thesis for his master’s degree dealt with the role of the United Nations in the decolonisation process of Namibia and the implementation of Security Council resolution 435.

His focus on international politics and communications saw Tshivhase become a regular commentator on Phalaphala FM, analysing international political developments.

He also became a part-time lecturer in public administration and local government administration at the University of Venda. Tshivhase was inaugurated as chief of Mianzwi village in 2002.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline, six children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.