The 20th of June 2023, mark the end of an era. After 98 years and 10 months, uButhongo Somon Masilela bowed out of this world, deeply content with a life well and long-lived. He lives behind an illustrious track record of liberation, education, building of houses, souls and liberation fighters.
After Fathering nine children, he leaves only two sons uLucky noElias. He had to endure the pain of burying seven of his children, the last one being uJoana, who departed 29 April 2023 a month apart. It would seem like, at this point, he could no longer sustain the pain.
At the time of his death, he had been blessed with three Daughters in Law. He leaves four generations 117 grand, great grand, great-great grand children.
God has not stopped blessing him… on the same afternoon he died, he was hugely blessed with the birth of the latest great-great-great grand boy-child, who has also been named uButhongo.
He leaves us with many lessons that will stay with us for many generations:
Inheritance and education:
Everything comes through hard work. Every right has a obligation, including freedom. All freedoms – including the freedom he quietly yet emphatically delivered for SA. He built Themba location. He built Soweto. He built Pendray Park. He built many houses in Swaziland. He built Number 43, with his bare hands, without a cent from a bank. He was a uncompromsimg task-master in his profession. Angazwani nabo ‘vukudle’. It earned the name Mahlabahlaba. He built professionals in the construction trade. He built lives. He built confidence amongst liberation forces.
Magogoism:
Giving and sharing selflessly. Selflessness was key to him. He has never had an RA or pension, until he died. His pension was the people around him and his children.
Mkhuluism:
Growing strong and wise in simplicity. Today we are wearing tshirts to signify his passion simplicity. His send off was nothing but simple, as was his long life.
Humour and humility:
What will remain deeply imprinted in our memories, is his booming voice. He could not hleba (gossip). He was an open book to all.
Dear Soweto:
Read about the life of uButhongo
THE LIFE OF uBUTHONGO:
SALUTE THE CORPORAL FN60483
05 Aug 1924/5:
uButhongo is born eNgobi, Middleburg, to Moraka Daniel Jwamari Spearlman Masilela and Sarah Magogodi NaMngwane. He was one of eleven siblings, uElias, uAlfred, uJoana, uNamdlangu, uBetty, uPhilip, uWilheminah, uJoel noJonas. All born in the period 1913-1933. One sibling was lost early after birth, to unknown illness
circa 1934/6:
He attended school at Berlin School in Rietvlei
07 Sep 1939:
His Father dies, four days after Britain and France declared war on Germany. As a result uButhongo is forced to drop off from school at Std 1
circa Dec 1942:
Joins the South African Army and goes to the Second World War. As a result, the Family would later leave Ngobi and be scattered around Johannesburg and subsequently Greater Pretoria. He earned one pound a month as a soldier
circa Jan 1943:
Deployed to Wadi Garawi in Egypt, as part of the convoy operating in the front
1944:
uButhongo returns from the Second World War, to find that his Family was evicted from the farm they stayed, kwaNangoqwana, and their cattle herd confiscated. It was argued that they could not hold cattle whilst he was earning an income in the army. He became responsible for the Family’s relocation to other parts of the country.
circa Dec 1945:
He leaves for Johannesburg in search of employment whilst finding refuge in Orlando East at a home of a friend
1946:
He finds a job at the Trade Fair grounds in Milner Park, earning seven pounds a month. He did not stay long afterwhich he joined a demobilisation programme where he trained as a bricklayer
1947:
Deployed for the construction of Themba location, in Hammaskraal. That is where he meets the Love of his Life, uMakgomo, with whom they were separated by death
01 Aug 1951:
uButhongo marries uMakgomo (uMagogo). They soon settle in Soweto, 466 Mofolo North
1958 – 1964:
Frequent Swaziland ferrying negotiators for the independence of the Kingdom of Swaziland from the British Crown. In this period he gets exposed to the education system
January 1965:
uButhongo noMagogo, in protest against Bantu Education, relocate to Swaziland and settle at Number 43 Trelawney Park, a property bequeathed to him by Solly Mahlangu
1976 – 1994:
uButhongo was instrumental in the waging of war against the Apartheid regime, until the Republic of South Africa attained its independence in 1994. He gives total freedom to uMagogo in the use of Number 43 as a safe haven for the fighting forces
20 June 2023:
uButhongo bows out of this world, profoundly content with his contribution to the livelihoods of people around him.
May His Soul be at Rest Now
DLAMBILI, NGIDI YABOMDIBANE, NQONDOBEZA, DEY’LAMADODA!
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