Posted on Behalf of Dimakatso Motaung

Mokhachane o thobile
Ntate Mokhachane o suthile,
Ntate Mokhachane o siretse,
Empa mehopolong ya rona
O tla dula a le teng.
Kajeno re bina pina ya Basotho
Re bina kodiyamalla sebele
Ho tsamaile senatla, ho tsamaile kwakwariri,
O ne a ikgantsha ka Bosotho ba hae,
O ne a boulella meetlo le dipuo tsa Basotho
Mebetsi ya hae e siile menyabuketso
E kekeng ya phumulwa mehopolong
Ya basebetsimmoho le yena
Kajeno lefu le fihlile le sa mengwa,
La kena lapeng la Mokhachane,
La mo hlwibila la ya ka yena
Bana sala ba rwetse matsoho dihloohong
Ba baphasaphasa seka madinyane a kgoho
Ba mathela hetleng la mme,
Ba lla sa masisapelo seboko,
Ba lla sa mmokotsane sello.
MmaMokhachane, tiya ngwaneso
Hlakola menyepetsi mahlong
Aparang kobo ya tumelo lona ba haMokhachane
Hoba thato ho phethahetse ya Ramasedi.

Written by:
Dimakatso Motaung
SES-Sesotho Languages

Ta Freddie, so I called you. I am so saddened by your your untimely passing. I was promoted, trained and grown professionally under your leadership. We reminisce about how you used to say if we don't want to work, you will take us to Teachers Center and Sizokozonda Size Sikuthande.

I guess it all was all GOD's plan. I am so grateful to have met you i my life's journey.

So long Freddie

Posted on Behalf of Adv Alison Bengtson
DDG:CMD

A Tribute to Freddie Mokhachane

What a devastating loss to the Gauteng Department of Education and to Freddie’s family! What an absolute loss! Sorrow fills my heart this sad moment, a sorrow that is deep and personal.
Freddie was a thorough professional. He was excellent in everything that he did, no matter how big or small the task. I remember Freddie as being a true gentleman, always smiling, always willing to assist. Freddie contribute much to the development of the EN district. He generously gave us his knowledge, his expertise, and his skills. He was a committed official and I am proud to have known him.
My heart, like everyone else is broken. Freddie may your soul rest in peace! My sincere condolences to the family.
Maya Angelou says “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again”.
Adv Alison Bengtson
DDG:CMD

I, Grace Tshetlo, former principal of ikusasa want to thank God for bringing people like Mr Mokhachane in my career path who is one of the people that believed in me and gave me support that bore sweet fruit at our school. He would always remind who the Captain of Ikusasa was, in 2014 wen we got 95% pass he promoted me to be Pilot of the school.
■ In 2010 a learner Samson could not even afford a pen, not even for the exams, got 5 distinctions soaring in maths and sciences but did not have money to further his studies. It was Mr Mokhachane who said " Mme a re fumanele ngoan enoa bursary" . Today the boy is an engineer he has lifted his family and some neighbors to a better life more important there are other kids he is helping with study fees. He had planned to visit Mr Mokhachane in spring at least.
■ In 2011 Mr Mokhachane solicited two mobile science laboratories for our school from ChemServr and at the presentation he made an instant requisition for the third lab and it was delivered in three weeks. These labs saw our matric Life sciences and Physical sciences results improving to 100% and 98% respectively (the 2% being learners who joined the school in grade 12.)
■ Whenever we had more learner intake in January, I knew who to talk to, to get stationery even from the principals who had claimed not have any surplus. I will always thank God for people like Ntate and will always cherish their support

Posted on behalf of Grace Tshetlo

“BROTHER” as we fondly called you “Good night”. You’ve ran your race and your footprints will forever be engraved in our hearts. You served the entire Ekurhuleni Community and Stakeholders with great pride and dignity it deserved. Your zeal for a constructive change in education system will forever be remembered. In you, a big tree has indeed fallen.

Thanks for believing in me more than I can believe in myself. Thanks for developing me into the person I am today. Will always cherish your guidance, leadership and support. You might be gone, but you’ll never be forgotten.

GOOD-BYE MY LEADER
TILL WE MEET AGAIN

Farewell Cadre Freddie Mokhachane
The only certainty in our present world is rapid and accelerating change. We can either ride with the changes hoping for the best or use the changes we recognise around us to our best advantage. The most distinctive human response to any major or minor change is resistance. Individuals resist change as they fear letting go of the old, safe, routine ways of conducting their business for an unknown and unsafe territory. As humans, we prefer routines and tend to stick to our habits. Furthermore, the transition between the present state and the changed state is difficult for individuals and organisations, as it involves the ending of the current state. William Bridges (1980) discusses the process of individual change by presenting four stages that individuals must pass through to move into the transition state and effectively change: disengagement, misidentification, disorientation and disenchantment!

None of us could have predicted that today we will all go through these states of transition when we got to receive the devastating message of the passing on of our comrade, friend, brother, husband and father! Freddie Mokhachane, ntja mme, the cat, Cosatu is no more. He was boisterous, passionate, full of laughter, full of life, firm approach and uncompromising belief in all that is good. We are sadden as we dip his spear to mark our respect for a leader, a cadre, a loyal and dedicated servant of our people, isicaka esibekekileyo. He served the people in various capacity, the foot print he leaves on the ground bears testimony to that.
His comrades in the various ANC chatsites will miss his inimitable and robust style as he left no stone unturned from his strong views on the frailties of the reign of the former President Zuma, he did not spare our Mayor and demanded loyalty to the Presidency of HE President Ramaphosa. For a while during the reign of former President Zuma, he had lost all interests in politics and work of the ANC. He did not take much to be convinced and he returned to be the ANC chairperson in Crystalpark. He served with distinction and was followed by another solid Cde in Bangilizwe Solo. He unfortunately has also followed Cde Freddie and passed on the following day after the passing of Cde Freddie. It is almost as if that they wanted to accompany each as they go to join the ANC Branch in Heaven. Cde Freddie was categoric, it is either you are with us or against us. Cde Freddie, as we touched on the metaphor of the states of transition embraced unequivocally the “Thuma Mina” invocation and robustly demanded that we must all respond positively….there is one President that is HE President Ramaphosa.
He entered into teaching during a period when teachers were very conservative and feared authority. Very few teachers participated in the progressive teacher union known as NEUSA. It did not take much to recruit this former member of Sasco from Wits. He was very loud about the virtues of a free South Africa and a free Nelson Mandela. NEUSA together with the UDF and affiliates were banned and a huge gap was created. Cde Freddie in his first week at Unity Secondary was already seeking out the “leadership” and demanded action. No amount of calming him down, succeeded and with the support of the COSAS grouping we were forced into action and established the Benoni Teachers’ Union (BETU), supported by Cosatu Khetsi Lehoko.

Cde Freddie is a former member of Sasco whilst at Wits University. Immediately after he started teaching, he joined the only progressive teacher union, an affiliate of the UDF and NECC, the NEUSA. (Curtis Nkondo was President & Thulas Nxesi, the National Secretary). He joined us to form the Benoni Teachers Union after Cosas insisted that we must establish a progressive teachers Union, after the banning of the UDF & NEUSA! Cde Freddie distinguished himself as an organisor as he became the main instigator and chief recruiter for the BETU. We had strong support from Dayco, Cosas, etc. Who attended all our meeting with dangers of being arrested? BETU started strong mobilisation of the teachers and for the first time organised marches and other forms of actions like stopping visits to school by apartheid inspectors, Cde Freddie was instrumental in preventing any apartheid inspired school inspection, rejected the notion of the promotion of separate schooling. He was part of the team that confronted the police to stop harassing students and invading schools. Several meetings were held with the police and students to engage the police on their violence against students and schools. Schools became a no- going area to schools inspectors and those who were intransigent were frogmarched out of the school into their cars and pelted with eggs.

He moved from one school to the next to ensure that no Departmental official entered any of the schools. BETU in 1990 folded and closed and became Sadtu. SADTU was launched at Sharp 17 and Shepherd Mdladlane became the first President. Cde Freddie developed the nickname of "Cosatu" as he strongly campaigned to have Sadtu to become an affiliate of Cosatu. Most Sadtu members who were both PAC and Azapo teachers vehemently opposed this campaign until through Cde Freddie's strong campaigning we won over the whole of the East Rand for Sadtu to join Cosatu. This was achieved by 1991. Cde Freddie embarked on staff mobilization and came into collision course with his principal, who mobilized the parent body of the SGB against Cde Freddie. He was threaten and intimidated for mobilising on behalf of Sadtu until the leadership came to his rescue and met with management and the SGB. They were extremely hostile towards Cde Freddie and his uncompromising style. Cde Freddie was adamant that every school must be a Sadtu base. Eventually the school Governing Body reconciled with Cde Freddie and once again embraced him into the school but he continued his mobilisation to the chagrin of the SGB. Together with Cde Aubrey Mbelle and Cde David Hlabane continued to ensure that they do not only recognized but participated in building a strong ANC in the township spreading into eTwatwa. BETU and eventually Sadtu grew in numbers and ended up dominating as the leading and only teacher union across all the township of this part of town.

The fight to introduce non-racialism in sport in Benoni led to campaigns to introduce Benoni Schools' Sports (Bessco) Programme with Indian, Coloured and White schools participating in schools' sports across Benoni and Boksburg (Reigerpark). His extreme talent and inimitable character led to him being recruited by Dr Braam Fleish, the District Director in Benoni, Department of Education. He distinguished himself as a powerful figure as he contributed towards a better education for all in Benoni. He was instrumental in the campaign to introduce new schools in Unity and Rolihlahla Schools! He leaves a rich legacy in the fight for better schooling for all the people of Benoni.

Cde Freddie loved his wife and his family. Each and every moment he spent with his friends who called each other the “Cats” he always knew he had a home and a wife and kids. They meant everything to him. He loved his sister who he visited from time to time. Before he went to buy property in Crystalpark, he stayed with his sister in the township, and as they started speaking SeSotho sa ga Moshoeshoe, you could only watched in amazement, as they “showed off” the intricacies of that language. We learnt by hook or crook, to keep up. May his soul rest in peace and he is offering us the baton to pick it up and take it forward for all the good work that he contributed in. May his wife and son rejoice in the spirit that Cde Freddie’s death was untimely and unexpected, but in this short life he has achieved so much that many people can only envy. We wish him eternal peace in his journey to join his ancestors both from his family side but also on the side of his organisations, the ANC and SADTU.

Clive Mtshisa
Founding leader of BETU and BESSCO, SADTU Local, and former Provincial Deputy Chair SADTU GAUTENG

Farewell Cadre Freddie Mokhachane
The only certainty in our present world is rapid and accelerating change. We can either ride with the changes hoping for the best or use the changes we recognise around us to our best advantage. The most distinctive human response to any major or minor change is resistance. Individuals resist change as they fear letting go of the old, safe, routine ways of conducting their business for an unknown and unsafe territory. As humans, we prefer routines and tend to stick to our habits. Furthermore, the transition between the present state and the changed state is difficult for individuals and organisations, as it involves the ending of the current state. William Bridges (1980) discusses the process of individual change by presenting four stages that individuals must pass through to move into the transition state and effectively change: disengagement, misidentification, disorientation and disenchantment!

None of us could have predicted that today we will all go through these states of transition when we got to receive the devastating message of the passing on of our comrade, friend, brother, husband and father! Freddie Mokhachane, ntja mme, the cat, Cosatu is no more. He was boisterous, passionate, full of laughter, full of life, firm approach and uncompromising belief in all that is good. We are sadden as we dip his spear to mark our respect for a leader, a cadre, a loyal and dedicated servant of our people, isicaka esibekekileyo. He served the people in various capacity, the foot print he leaves on the ground bears testimony to that.
His comrades in the various ANC chatsites will miss his inimitable and robust style as he left no stone unturned from his strong views on the frailties of the reign of the former President Zuma, he did not spare our Mayor and demanded loyalty to the Presidency of HE President Ramaphosa. For a while during the reign of former President Zuma, he had lost all interests in politics and work of the ANC. He did not take much to be convinced and he returned to be the ANC chairperson in Crystalpark. He served with distinction and was followed by another solid Cde in Bangilizwe Solo. He unfortunately has also followed Cde Freddie and passed on the following day after the passing of Cde Freddie. It is almost as if that they wanted to accompany each as they go to join the ANC Branch in Heaven. Cde Freddie was categoric, it is either you are with us or against us. Cde Freddie, as we touched on the metaphor of the states of transition embraced unequivocally the “Thuma Mina” invocation and robustly demanded that we must all respond positively….there is one President that is HE President Ramaphosa.
He entered into teaching during a period when teachers were very conservative and feared authority. Very few teachers participated in the progressive teacher union known as NEUSA. It did not take much to recruit this former member of Sasco from Wits. He was very loud about the virtues of a free South Africa and a free Nelson Mandela. NEUSA together with the UDF and affiliates were banned and a huge gap was created. Cde Freddie in his first week at Unity Secondary was already seeking out the “leadership” and demanded action. No amount of calming him down, succeeded and with the support of the COSAS grouping we were forced into action and established the Benoni Teachers’ Union (BETU), supported by Cosatu Khetsi Lehoko.

Cde Freddie is a former member of Sasco whilst at Wits University. Immediately after he started teaching, he joined the only progressive teacher union, an affiliate of the UDF and NECC, the NEUSA. (Curtis Nkondo was President & Thulas Nxesi, the National Secretary). He joined us to form the Benoni Teachers Union after Cosas insisted that we must establish a progressive teachers Union, after the banning of the UDF & NEUSA! Cde Freddie distinguished himself as an organisor as he became the main instigator and chief recruiter for the BETU. We had strong support from Dayco, Cosas, etc. Who attended all our meeting with dangers of being arrested? BETU started strong mobilisation of the teachers and for the first time organised marches and other forms of actions like stopping visits to school by apartheid inspectors, Cde Freddie was instrumental in preventing any apartheid inspired school inspection, rejected the notion of the promotion of separate schooling. He was part of the team that confronted the police to stop harassing students and invading schools. Several meetings were held with the police and students to engage the police on their violence against students and schools. Schools became a no- going area to schools inspectors and those who were intransigent were frogmarched out of the school into their cars and pelted with eggs.

He moved from one school to the next to ensure that no Departmental official entered any of the schools. BETU in 1990 folded and closed and became Sadtu. SADTU was launched at Sharp 17 and Shepherd Mdladlane became the first President. Cde Freddie developed the nickname of "Cosatu" as he strongly campaigned to have Sadtu to become an affiliate of Cosatu. Most Sadtu members who were both PAC and Azapo teachers vehemently opposed this campaign until through Cde Freddie's strong campaigning we won over the whole of the East Rand for Sadtu to join Cosatu. This was achieved by 1991. Cde Freddie embarked on staff mobilization and came into collision course with his principal, who mobilized the parent body of the SGB against Cde Freddie. He was threaten and intimidated for mobilising on behalf of Sadtu until the leadership came to his rescue and met with management and the SGB. They were extremely hostile towards Cde Freddie and his uncompromising style. Cde Freddie was adamant that every school must be a Sadtu base. Eventually the school Governing Body reconciled with Cde Freddie and once again embraced him into the school but he continued his mobilisation to the chagrin of the SGB. Together with Cde Aubrey Mbelle and Cde David Hlabane continued to ensure that they do not only recognized but participated in building a strong ANC in the township spreading into eTwatwa. BETU and eventually Sadtu grew in numbers and ended up dominating as the leading and only teacher union across all the township of this part of town.

The fight to introduce non-racialism in sport in Benoni led to campaigns to introduce Benoni Schools' Sports (Bessco) Programme with Indian, Coloured and White schools participating in schools' sports across Benoni and Boksburg (Reigerpark). His extreme talent and inimitable character led to him being recruited by Dr Braam Fleish, the District Director in Benoni, Department of Education. He distinguished himself as a powerful figure as he contributed towards a better education for all in Benoni. He was instrumental in the campaign to introduce new schools in Unity and Rolihlahla Schools! He leaves a rich legacy in the fight for better schooling for all the people of Benoni.

Cde Freddie loved his wife and his family. Each and every moment he spent with his friends who called each other the “Cats” he always knew he had a home and a wife and kids. They meant everything to him. He loved his sister who he visited from time to time. Before he went to buy property in Crystalpark, he stayed with his sister in the township, and as they started speaking SeSotho sa ga Moshoeshoe, you could only watched in amazement, as they “showed off” the intricacies of that language. We learnt by hook or crook, to keep up. May his soul rest in peace and he is offering us the baton to pick it up and take it forward for all the good work that he contributed in. May his wife and son rejoice in the spirit that Cde Freddie’s death was untimely and unexpected, but in this short life he has achieved so much that many people can only envy. We wish him eternal peace in his journey to join his ancestors both from his family side but also on the side of his organisations, the ANC and SADTU.

Clive Mtshisa
Founding leader of BETU and BESSCO, SADTU Local, and former Provincial Deputy Chair SADTU GAUTENG

Rest in peace comrade