The future of the Queen Butterfly Foundation is uncertain since the untimely passing of founder and owner Palesa Mofokeng at the Helen Joseph Hospital at the age of 40.
Palesa, who started her journey as a trainee at Pathways Roodepoort, realised her life’s calling by caring for children with severe physical and mental disabilities, eventually founding her own stimulation centre – the Queen Butterfly Foundation in 2015.
According to her close friend of many years, Julie Botha, Palesa was a heroine in the true sense of the word.
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“She committed her entire life to the children in her care,” Julie says. “Every moment, from when she opened her eyes in the morning until she went to sleep, was dedicated entirely to her ‘butterflies’, as she called them.
“The impact she made within her local community and the industry is immeasurable.”
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Palesa has had numerous health problems over the past two years. According to Julie, Palesa suffered a stroke in February of 2023. “It impacted her severely,” she says, adding that Palesa had to relearn how to talk.
“Her health seemed to deteriorate rapidly after the stroke.”
She also suffered from Lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy cells.
Palesa was rushed to the hospital on October 20, after which her condition worsened, and she passed away on October 28 at 21:00.
She will be laid to rest in her traditional home, QwaQwa on November 9, and a memorial service will be held for her on November 16 at the Wilro Park Baptist Church, in Umfolozi Road, Wilro Park.
For more information, call Julie Botha on 083 653 5655.
