{"id":132790,"date":"2016-09-09T11:05:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T09:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/132790\/pensioner-dies-on-her-way-to-sport-tournament\/"},"modified":"2016-09-09T10:52:24","modified_gmt":"2016-09-09T08:52:24","slug":"pensioner-dies-on-her-way-to-sport-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/09\/09\/pensioner-dies-on-her-way-to-sport-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Pensioner dies on her way to sport tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gauteng Social Development MEC, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, visited the family of a 68-year-old pensioner on September 7.<\/p>\n

The pensioner, gogo Seipati Lethoba, died on her way to the Golden Games<\/a>, that were held at the Germiston Stadium, on Friday, September 2.<\/p>

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Mayathula-Khoza was accompanied by senior officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development,when she visited the Sebokeng home, to convey a message of condolence before the burial, on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very sad to lose a family member. We understand the pain and I say to the family: trust in God, because he is the only one who knows everything,\u201d she said.<\/p>

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\u201cYou are not the only ones who have suffered a loss, as a department we have also suffered, Lethoba was an active member of our programme.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was further told she was a community builder and family unifier. I want to assure you that we, as the provincial government, are with you during this difficult moment and that we pray for God to be with you at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayathula-Khoza also told the family that the premier has mandated her to ensure families who are in distress receive assistance from her department.<\/p>\n

Mapule Rabotapi, a sister of the deceased, expressed her appreciation for the assistance the family received from the government, saying: \u201cWe have received a lot of help from the government since the beginning of this ordeal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lethoba was a former deputy principal at Letshego Primary School, in Evaton, and retired in 2003.<\/p>\n

She will be remembered in her community for bringing together pensioners in her neighbourhood and assisting them by collecting bottles for recycling, so they could have extra funds.<\/p>\n

She also formed a street club, where families assisted one another when there were burials and weddings, and also supported those in need.<\/p>\n

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