Social media personality Simon Dikgale remembered after his passing
Dikgale's aunt, Mogwantedi Dikgale says he left a considerable wound of self-blame on his mother, three siblings, partner and son, because they were not aware of his struggles.
POLOKWANE – The heart-wrenching death of popular social media personality and teacher, Simon Dikgale has seen affected Seshego and Mankweng residents converse on the emotional hardships men face, and still fail to speak up about with the fear of judgement from society.
Better known as “Principal Mokone”, the young man who was in his 30s died at his home in Biko Park just outside Seshego on March 22, no foul play is suspected.
Founder of Men Speak Out and Protect A Boy Child awareness campaigns, Matalane Mokgatla expressed ample concern over Dikgale’s passing.
Mokgatla showed support for the emotional hardship men face by participating in a 10-day 262km walk from Nirvana to the Union Buildings in Gauteng from March 21, to raise money that would be directed to help the cause of calling for men to open up about their troubles.
Mokgatla says he believes that a lot of men are dying in silence, as society’s stereotypes view male individuals who are outspoken as weak.
During his extraordinary climb of Mount Kilimajaro in Tanzania last year for the same cause, he had the same thoughts at heart.
“The cause for men to speak out, as well as the support from friends, family and fans, kept me going. I thought about the brothers we lost to suicide. I remember when I started my hike, no one understood why the need to climb mountains. Not even my own family understood at that time. But this didn’t stop me. I kept doing what I love and with time, my family realised how much this means to me. Other people also started seeing the love I have for hiking and speaking up,” he says.
Meanwhile, while breaking the family’s silence about his passing, Dikgale’s aunt, Mogwantedi Dikgale says he left a considerable wound of self-blame on his mother, three siblings, partner and son, because they were not aware of his struggles.
“The family spent time with him during Human Rights Day at our main home when he visited in Ga-Mamabolo. He was his usual loud self and he even made us join him for his Tik-Tok video dances like he always would. He left on Tuesday and reported for work at Molebatsi Secondary School in Biko Park on Wednesday morning. We received the news of his passing on Wednesday evening,” she says.
Even so, sources close to the scene say the once esteemed master of ceremonies had written an extensive letter about the financial pressure he faced.
Those close to him revealed that a few hours before his death was announced, he had also posted a cryptic status on his WhatsApp that read, “You won’t understand and even if you understand, you won’t help”.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mike Maringa shared the department’s heartfelt condolences with his family, and said they would be affording them the necessary space to grief.
