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THOMO’S UNIQUE OBITUARY

17/08/2019 23:53:00 BY MFANUKHONA NKAMBULE

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mfanukhona@times.co.sz

NKHABA – Just before 7am, his casket was lowered into the grave in a funeral procession in which mourners were calm, cool and collected.

They were in a sombre mood but did not cry. Only one young woman cried hysterically after seeing the casket of Sipho Derek Thomo being lowered to the grave by pall bearers from Dups Funeral Home.

Thomo’s wife, Winile, was composed and was seen conversing with relatives.
Typically, widows fail to maintain composure when they are called upon to pay their last respects to their deceased husbands by casting soil to the grave in terms of the culture of emaSwati.

They become inconsolable, and others cry hysterically. However, it was not the case with Winile as she appeared full of verve.
She did not need the help of a relative to cast the soil to the grave. She did it with ease and returned to where she was seated with relatives, without shedding a tear.

“She might have gotten some strong counselling. She’s a strong woman,” one mourner standing next to this reporter said.
Thomo’s obituary was a unique and straight-to-the- point biography. Though it was straight to the point, it omitted basic information such as who survived him. The obituary did not tell mourners who the father of Thomo was, is he still alive, and what’s the name of his mother? How many children he had and there was nothing said about his siblings.

About 1 000 people
attended

Most importantly, neither his wife nor his firstborn son Machawe were mentioned in the obituary of the man who served Inyatsi Construction Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Kukhanya Civil Engineering Contractors, Ngwane Mills and Parmalat Eswatini with dedication, excellence and passion.
Thomo died in a car accident while he was on vacation with friends in Mozambique.

About 1 000 people attended Thomo’s funeral at his parental home at Nkhaba, in the northern part of Eswatini. Among those who paid their last respects to the late chartered accountant were relatives, friends and well known people like former Mbabane Highlanders player David Madlopha, who now works for Mankayane Town Board as a Clerk or rather Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Dlamini, an attorney and Muzi Masuku, the Programme Manager responsible for Disability Rights at the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa. Leading the funeral service was Pastor Raymond Mwiinga from the International Family Church in Ezulwini.

Inyatsi Construction was represented by Derrick Shiba, the Managing Director in Eswatini, who mentioned that he was honoured to share the same name ‘Derrick’ with Thomo.
Shiba said their firstborn sons were named “Machawe.”

was clinical, transparent

He described the deceased as one of the leaders of Inyatsi Construction, who spearheaded growth and gave proper directions when the company was still called Inyatsi Superfos.

Shiba pointed out that Thomo left for South Africa at some point, and later returned to Inyatsi at a time when projects were scarce to get. The managing director mentioned that he persevered with management in pursuit for work that would sustain the company.

“You did not need to ask if he was in office. His laughter just told the story that work has begun,” he said.
“He was clinical, and the business community appreciated his virtue of transparency. He gave them feedback – always.”
He said Shiba delivered on his mandate – on time – always.

He told the mourners he loved his mother so much that he occasionally had lunch with her.
Speaking on behalf of his friends, Mpumelelo Mtsetfwa said Thomo had a big heart, a man of his words and a professional fellow. Hours before his death, he said they had a group breakfast and later took a beach walk, discussing personal issues.

“It was the longest breakfast we have ever had,” he said.
He said the late acting financial officer of Inyatsi wanted them to travel back to Eswatini without taking a bath.
A representative of the deceased’s in-laws (Magagulas) said Thomo followed his name as he was a gift to them. Sipho means gift. He said they enjoyed life with him.