Louis Trichardt - South African Olympic medallist Mbulaeni Tongai Mulaudzi was lauded as a champion and soldier who hoisted his country’s flag with distinction.
Mulaudzi, 34, who died last week in a car crash in Mpumalanga, was laid to rest in an official provincial funeral at his rural Muduluni village Near Louis Trichardt in Limpopo on Friday, President Jacob Zuma ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast in Limpopo on the day of his funeral.
Mulaudzi’s coffin was wrapped in a national flag and police, led by provincial commissioner Fannie Masemola, stood beside it in a guard of honour.
From various parts of the country, fellow sportsmen and women, politicians, government leaders and ordinary South Africans paid their last respects to the unassuming, impressive runner.
Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane represented the government.
Also present at the ceremony were Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Gauteng Premier David Makhura, KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha, and the Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema.
Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, said: “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to say ‘go well, go well, great soldier’.”
Bishop George Ramatshimbila’s sense of humour lightened the sombre ambiance that enveloped the ceremony.
In what appeared to be a fictional anecdote, the cleric recalled the time when thieves opted to steal a wheelbarrow that had carried a stash of local currency.
The thieves, he said, left the cash which they considered worthless because they saw more value in the wheelbarrow.
Acting Limpopo Premier Rudolph Phala praised Mulaudzi for his enthusiasm for sports development.
“Like a true soldier, a champion, he died with his boots on, wearing his uniform and combat-ready on the way to contribute for the development of athletics in South Africa,” Phala said.
Mulaudzi’s close friend, former sprinter Hezekiel Sepeng, high jump and triple jump athlete Khotso Mokoena and middle-distance runner and former world champion Caster Semenya also attended the funeral.
The official funeral then proceeded to the cemetery where provincial police chief Masemola removed the national flag from the coffin, folded it and gave it to Chabane, who handed it to Mulaudzi’s mother.
Emotions flared when the coffin was lowered into the grave.
Mulaudzi’s mother wiped away tears as the coffin was lowered into the grave and relatives cried, one wailing hysterically.
Then the police trumpet sounded, marking the end of the official funeral.
A grand tombstone was immediately unveiled before the throngs of mourners and the well-wishers dispersed. Mulaudzi leaves his parents, three sisters, a son and three nieces.
Sunday Independent