02 Feb 2023

God Fearing Sephonono remembered

Hymns echoed against thunderous rain Wednesday afternoon as former pupils, friends and close family remembered slain Taung CJSS teacher Thato Sephonono.
Thato, as her friends fondly called her, took her last breath allegedly through Oedipal complex fate this past weekend.

The lifeless body of the 39-year-old Taung Setswana teacher was discovered early Saturday morning by her neighbours and colleagues at her apartment at the teacher’s quarters.
Her 20-year-old son is in police custody, helping with investigations.
Rain failed to dampen the spirits of hundreds of mourners who crammed in the school hall and sang praises about Sephonono whom many described as a staunch believer in the word of God.

Given the adoration that Sephonono commanded and rightly earned in her sombre passing she undoubtedly endeared herself to many across all walks of life and was a servant of God whom won many battles in the arc of her life even in her darkest hour.
In a word of encouragement Reverent Bonolo Mmereki Burns of UCCSA pleaded with those in grief to, like the biblical David “weep aloud until they had no strength to weep”, but cast their hope unto the Lord.

In her welcome remarks Taung school head Ms Tebogo Sebogodi set the tone for the heart wrenching memorial service.
“Ga go monate….. re latlhegetswe re sa solofela. Mme re tla ikgomotsa ko go le bona le tsile go ema le rona”, was all Ms Sebogodi could say before embracing all the mourners and retracting solemnly to her seat.
Area MP Mr Lefoko Moagi encouraged the community to establish the root cause of social ills that were bedeviling youth and the nation at large.

Regional Education Director Mr Peter Choto said the teaching fraternity was still reeling in shock at the sudden and tragic passing of Sephonono.

He said all stakeholders in the teaching profession needed to go back to the drawing board and establish a long lasting strategy that would assist in challenges facing the profession.
A colleague from Taung secondary Ms Kelebogile Lefitlhwetswe described Sephonono as energetic and full of love for her children and learners.
She said the late Sephonono was passionate about her work and was engaged in several regional and national assignments.

A colleague from Thobega secondary school where Sephonono started her teaching journey described her as a clean young lady who had a respectable fashion sense. She said Sephonono was their flower at Lebandla social club.

Former form 3 Sapphire student Kimberly Petrus barely held back tears as she read a moving eulogy to her beloved teacher.
 

Sephonono’s best friend Neo Kerobale lifted the dark veil that swamped the hall by sharing some light moments with her late friend.

She talked about how the sharp-dressing Sephonono got accustomed to her cloth and how she had planned to celebrate her 40th birthday in red carpet style in April.

She will be laid to rest at her home village of Masingwaneng in the North East district on Saturday. Ends