09 Apr 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his wife, Neo were among mourners from all walks of life who paid their last respect to Magdalena Cornelia De Graaff on April 8.

Some Cabinet members and political leadership from different parties were also among those who came to bid farewell to Member of Parliament for Ghanzi South, Christiaan De Graaff’s mother.

Magdalena De Graaff, commonly referred to as Mma De Graaff by Ghanzi community died at the age of 92.

In his homage speech, President Masisi said Mma De Graaff was a pedigree Motswana who was patriotic to her country.

“Having been born in 1926 in Ghanzi during the colonial era ‘Mma De Graaff is a pedigree Motswana, of Afrikaner tribe,” President Masisi stated.

The President described her as an exemplary citizen who deserved every honour one could think of, ‘and to crown it all she raised and brought up exemplary children.”

He implored today’s generation to borrow a leaf from her, saying it was appropriate to learn something from her life as she was a passionate farmer, a successful business woman and mother to all.

President Masisi explained that Mma De Graaff owned the first shop in Ghanzi called Hollandia, which even traded as far as Ncojane, and is still operating in Ghanzi, graciously managed by her children.

He said Mma De Graaff always put God before everything and was a consummate mother who never failed to take care of her children.

“Farewell Mma De Graaff, we celebrated you, it is painful to part, but you did your bit, the rest is for us,” President said and added that the country was proud to have a person of Mma De Graaff’s caliber.

The turnout on the day, President Masisi said, was a total reflection of what Mma De Graaff stood for.

For his part, Mr Christiaan De Graaff said his late mother was invaluable to their family, advancing that the bond among family members was unbreakable because of her.

He said even though they would dearly miss their staunch Christian mother, they took comfort from the fact that she had gone to live at a better place with the person she loved most, heavenly father.

“God has taken a beautiful flower in our garden, for that God we love you more than ever before, because mummy is with you and no one could take better care of her than you.”

He said she taught them to tolerate other people and be faithful to God.

His family, he said was humbled by the support from the President and were honoured that the former president, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama also visited them upon hearing of Mma De Graaff’s passing.

Also, Ghanzi South legislator said the country leadership deserved special tribute because of the peace and harmony prevailing in the country that made the family what it is today.

Another speaker, Botswana Democratic Party representative, Mr Patrick Balopi said Mma De Graaff had served the party for a long time, as such her death was a great loss to the ruling party.

Mr Balopi said the party had lost a caring and compassionate mother. He explained that her shop, Hollandia, had in the past helped his party by providing necessities during trying times for the party to pay later.

He said Mma De Graaff, who was a mother of all, selflessly participated in the development of Botswana and she devoted her beloved son to serve the nation with diligence.

“When some white families relocated from Botswana at independence for fear of being ruled by a black government, De Graaff family was among those who remained behind.” ENDS