06 Jan 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo Masisi along with multitudes of mourners on January 4 paid their respects to Mr Edwin Maswabi as he was laid to rest in Phomolong, Phakalane.

Described as a strict, firm and a people’s person by his son Mr Mohumi Maswabi, who spoke on behalf of his siblings at their home in Tlokweng, he said his father had suffered for over 24 years after having been involved in a car accident.

“May his soul rest in peace and even though we did not get along for some time, we made peace during the time we had to take care of him along with our mother,” he said.

He indicated that before his father was involved in the car accident that made it difficult for him to live a normal life, he was a man that did not like food that much, he just ate for sustenance.

“But after he was injured his appetite for food seemed to come back and it was amusing at times watching him eat his food with passion and remembering that he did not like food before,” said Mr Maswabi.

Talking about the day his father passed away, Mr Maswabi said in the previous three days his father could not drink water and it was very difficult for him.

“The night before he passed on the following day (December 27 2018), I could not sleep as the area of my neck going up to my head was hot and that morning I got up as usual to feed my dog. I then peeped from the window to look into his room and he was not on his bed,” he said as he struggled to continue speaking.

He said he noted that when he got into his father’s room, he was on the floor with blood oozing from his forehead.

“It appeared that he had rolled over and fell on the ground, hitting his head on the floor and that is why there was blood and sadly that was the day he left us,” he said.

Ms Shelly Boakgomo, close friend and former colleague of the late Mr Maswabi spoke of how they became friends from a very young age and were inseparable growing up.

“My only regret is that during our older years I did not check up on him as much as I wished and every time I ran into his wife or children I would ask them how he was doing,” she said.

Ms Boakgomo further said she wishes people her age that grew up together could check up on each more often as they grow older.

“We are forever busy and this is not right.

We cannot be busy all the time, we need to find the time to reconnect with one another and just talk,” she said.

Mr Edwin Maswabi was born on March 12, 1944 in Taung, South Africa to Mr Madisa Maswabi and Ms Maria Maswabi.

He leaves behind his wife Tebogo, three adult children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and one older sister. Ends