21 Nov 2016

Mourners converged in Kgagodi on Saturday to lay to rest, Mr Orapeleng Modimoopelo.

When speaking at the funeral on behalf of President Lt Gen.Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama,  the Permanent Secretary to the President, Mr Carter Morupisi described Mr Modimoopelo as a friend and colleague who passed on at a young age of 46 years.

He said the deceased, who was the deputy district commissioner for Selebi Phikwe, combined personal discipline and dedication in the work place.

He noted that these qualities were clearly reflected in his record of academic and professional attribute having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Economics in 1994.

He noted that Mr Modimoopelo joined the public service as an assistant district officer in 1994 and steadily rose through the ranks to the position of deputy district commissioner for Selebi Phikwe.

“His drive for continued self- improvement is further reflected in his record of life- long learning. Besides earning a Master Degree in Economics in 2001 over the years he took advantage of further opportunities for training in areas such as Project Management, National Development Planning and Information Communication Technology,” Mr Morupisi said.

He said Mr Modimoopelo was a team player, who combined relentless drive with consistency.

Mr Morupisi added that the deceased had good command and knowledge of the obligation and expectation of the office.

“He was always available to guide and propose on issues of development planning and management.

He was always timely in his assignments and constituted a model of a civil servant,” he said

For his part, mayor of Selebi Phikwe, Mr Amogelang Mojuta described the deceased as a good and humble man.

He said he co-chaired many meetings regarding social and economic development in Selebi Phikwe adding that Mr Modimoopelo was a dependable man when it came to fulfilling civil service obligations and other government duties.

He said Mr Modimoopelo was a hard worker and only recently when his sickness took its toll, he showed signs of weakness until his untimely death.

He expressed words of condolences to Mr Modimoopelo’s wife Mrs Selina Modimoopelo, children and family.

Still at the funeral, the deceased’s uncle, Mr Mothusi Modimoopelo said the death of his nephew was a great loss to the family.

He said the deceased was good, humble person loved by many.

Mr Orapeleng Seduna Modimoopelo was the second child of Mr Tshirele Kepaletswe and Ditsotlhe Kepaletswe from Modibana kgotla in Kgagodi.

He started his education at Boswelakgomo Primary School in 1977 to1983.

He continued his education at Selebi Phikwe Secondary School from 1984 to 1988(form 1- form 5) and pursued his national volunteer programme (Tirelo Sechaba) at Ghantsi from 1989 to 1990.

Mr Modimoopelo went on to pursue his tertiary education at University of Botswana from 1999-1994 after completing his degree in BA Economics and Public Administration, he later on furthered his studies and obtained a Masters Degree in Economics in Kenya.

He started his civil service in 1994 under the District Commissioner’s office in Gumare and also worked in various jurisdictions until he was transferred to Selebi Phikwe 2013 where he worked as the Deputy District Commissioner until his untimely death.

The deceased is survived by his wife, three children-two boys and one girl, two grandchildren, mother, father and two sisters. BOPA