03 Jul 2023

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, Cabinet Ministers, traditional leaders and senior government officials were among multitudes of mourners who had come to pay their last respects to Ms Kgalalelo Brooks who was buried in Maubelo on Saturday.

The deceased was the wife of Kgalagadi South Member of Parliament, Mr Sam Brooks.

Vice President Tsogwane consoled the bereaved family and encouraged them to anchor their faith in God. 

Having also lost his first wife, Mr Tsogwane said the pain was unbearable and urged Mr Brooks to be strong and to seek solace in Christ. 

He said by nature women were loving, supportive, warm and kind and that when they died they left a vacuum.

The Vice President described the late Mma Brooks as a warm person whom he met during the launch of Mr Brooks as a parliamentary candidate in 2019.

He encouraged MP Brooks to continue building close relations with his in-laws and to be the son he had always been to them.

Mr Brooks described his wife as a calm, cool and collected life partner, whom he met in August 1991.

 He also described her as an economic planner who contributed to shaping his political career.

He said she was his pillar of strength who supported him in every way possible. 

Having known her for over 32 years, he said she was a shrewd economic planner by training who used her skill for the benefit of the nation as well as her family. 

He said his wife gave him full support as a parliamentary candidate to the extent of drawing a 10-year plan for him. 

He said he taught him to refine ideas and prioritise projects to achieve high impact development.

Mr Brooks also appreciated government, his family, his relatives and the in-laws for support.

He said his wife was in and out of hospital.

“I received news of her passing while on a working visit to Paris, France,” he said. 

He described her as a farmer par excellence whose farming plans reflected on the results.

Tsabong District Council chairperson, Mr Hendrick Jacobs said MP Brooks and his late wife groomed him into the politician he is today.

He pledged support to MP Brooks and also encouraged Kgalagadi constituents to support him during this difficult period. 

Furthermore, he said local government had lost a principal economist of repute. 

“It was a pleasure to have her as she was a hardworking and intelligent,” he said.

Gaborone City Council secretary, Mr Lopang Pule described Mma Brooks as a humble employee who had the right attitude towards work. 

He said him and Mma Brooks started work together in 2003 as assistant economic planners, adding that she was a cooperative and dedicated employee.

He said they drew National Development Plans, reviewed policies and monitored projects. 

Ma Pule said Mma Brooks possessed a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years, and that she rose through the ranks from assistant economist in 2003 to principal economist. 

“She was a pillar of support, strength and guidance for many and encouraged them to strive for greatness and never to settle for mediocracy.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla described Mma Brooks as a humble and warm person.

 She also pledged to support MP Brooks and his family.

The deceased leaves behind a husband and two children; Kitso and Sabina. Ends