By Karabo Ntanzi
Eighty-five-year-old Pastor Jeremiah Pogisho Mabale, a retired Seventh Day Adventist church elder, was laid to rest on 11 July. The funeral service took place at Stock ‘n Stock, Kimberley.
Pogisho, the third child born to Rapetoro Moses and Matshilaba Bessie Mabale, was born in Qhaba District, Bloemfontein. He started his schooling at St Patrick’s Primary and completed his matric at New School High, currently known as Sehunelo High School.
Those who knew him well confirm that the Pastor was very strict and stubborn but approachable. Despite their differences, his neighbour, Esther Mashibini, acknowledged that Mabale was a straight talker, “he would tell you when he was not happy with you.” Mashibini pleaded with neighbours to forge and maintain good relations.
The deceased was working at Central Post Office in Bloemfontein when he converted from Methodist to Seventh Day Adventist Church. From 1966 to 1969 he studied Theology at Bethel College situated at Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. He worked and built churches in Free State, Lesotho, Northern Cape, North West and his last position was in Gauteng. Mabale returned to Kimberley to enjoy his retirement, however, being retired did not stop him from serving the Lord.
According to Pastor Mabilo, Pogisho joined the Emmanuel Congregation in Coos Street, Kimberley where the congregants embraced his family. Regardless of his position as an elder, Pogisho mentored and respected the younger pastors.
“Pastors’ favourite teachings were on: Stewardship, Witnessing for Christ and the Sanctuary,” related Mabilo. He commended the family for opening their doors for Bible sharing, which included children from different denominations. “Pastor taught them to memorise Bible verses,” he said. Mabilo thanked Keabecwe, Pastor’s wife, for her unceasing prayers over her husband.
Representing the Mokakale family, Neo was honoured at the responsibility bestowed upon Mabale, as an in-law and elder. He praised Mabale for his patience, endurance and love for the family. Neo appealed to the boys to uphold the values and principles imparted by their father.
“Pogisho saw potential in me and requested my family allow him to raise me. He brought me from Bloemfontein to Kimberley and treated me like his own son. There are similarities in our behavior. I drew my strength from him. He was my confidant”, shared a visibly shaken Serame.
His nephew, Pastor Cocong Khoboko, recounted how his uncle converted to Seventh Day Adventist. “This caused a conflict within the family because it was a huge transformation. You forfeit some and gain some benefits”, Cocong’s commented. He explained that this caused the deceased to leave home and rent a room at a hostel, making him an outcast to the family. However, he continued preaching for his family. Bessie, the deceased’s mother, was the first to join his son. After that, most members of the Mabale clan followed suit.
Cocong, said he was the only one who took Pogisho’s advice and married within the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He remembered growing up how they spent their school holidays in Kimberley, sometimes ten to twelve people sleeping comfortably in a four-roomed house. He told mourners about the sacrifices made by his uncle, leaving his family for weeks, traveling the breadth and length of South Africa to various congregations without a car.
Pastor Pogisho Jeremiah Mabale leaves behind his wife, Jane Keabecwe Mabale nee Mokakale. The couple got married in 1975 and were blessed with two children and three grandchildren.
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