Professional golf caddy Tumi “Spoja” Makhele, who died at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe hospital after battling a short illness spell, was laid to rest in a moving ceremony held at the Kimberley City hall last Saturday.
Makhele was praised for his humility, generosity, his ability to unify people and sense of humour. He was also a socialite, cadre and a ladies’ man.
His funeral reflected one of his characteristics as a “unifier”. Among the mourners were politicians, Kimberley’s A-list socialites, business people, friends, family members, golfers, and caddies.
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine lay ministers delivered the scripture.
The funeral was a spectacle. The South African flag and that of the United Nations were displayed prominently on the stage.
Golf clubs from his favourite sport, hobby and longtime career were also prominently displayed around his coffin. A confirmation that through golf, Makhele had lifted the continent’s and SA’s flag in various countries.
Dimakatso Mathibe spoke on behalf of her aunt who nursed the diseased, saying that while lying on his sick bed, Makhele summoned a family meeting and referred to himself as the “prodigal son”.
Mathibe thanked Makhele’s friends for not disappointing him and delivering the last rites precisely as per his instructions.
Neighbours testified about the love Makhele had for his grandmother.
Steven Sereo, Makhele’s uncle, said he did not know who was stricter between them. “The deceased would call me Thuso, my name, when angered and things went wrong. Although he traveled a lot, he tried to spend time with family whenever he had the time”.
The chairperson for SA Caddies Association Ernest Guy said the golf course will never be the same again. According to Guy, Makhele initiated the process of changing the caddying job from slavery to a career.
The deceased organised caddies and formalised the association. This paved the way for an improved working environment enabling caddies to provide for their families.
In his eulogy, fellow golfer and friend Thabang Shibona said: “We are saddened by the passing of our colleague. Although we accepted the news, but we did not welcome the news”.
Shibona commented that golfers were always intrigued to see a short person carry a large bag of clubs taller and bigger than him because Makhele was short.
Four of his friends, Jabu Sibisi, Phemelo Mokgautsi, Caution Lesoane and Danisile Seetso shared fond memories and life experiences they had with the deceased. The friends reflected on their time from primary school to life at St Boniface High school.
Sibisi told of how the deceased tried to organise learners at St Boniface to form a student movement. The principal objected and explained that “this is a Catholic school. Go to Tshireleco”, reminisced Sibisi.
Itumeleng Eugene Sebastian aka “Spoja”, “Poon” Makhele was born in 1972. He was a former student at the Northern Transvaal and the Cape Peninsula Technikons and worked for Dora Tamana Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Northern Cape. He is survived by his daughter Rethabile, his mother and two sisters.
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