Comrade Sabelo Ngubeni (25) was involved in a tragic car accident on the 20th of February that claimed his life.
Sabelo Ngubeni was buried in his hometown, Standerton in Mpumalanga, on March 2, 2021.
Ngubeni will be remembered by those closest to him as an activist, family man and man of God who was very loyal and wholly committed to the struggle and to changing the lives of our people.
Scelo Kubheka, chairperson of the Wits ANCYL, Scelo Kubheka, who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela after the burial, said comrades went to extreme lengths to attend the funeral and show support to the family.
“To be honest, comrades came out in their numbers to show their support. Remember, the funeral was today. Comrades had other commitments, be it political, academic or work-related. Yet some suspended their academic activities and some took leave just to say goodbye to the great man of Mpumalanga, who had good plans for this beautiful country of South Africa,” said Kubheka.
Kubheka further told Wits Vuvuzela about the many parts Ngubeni played in fighting for disadvantaged students and a programme he started in 2020 to help the less privileged.
“Last year we started a programme where we adopted rural and township schools. We assisted them with stationary, books, uniforms, calculators and everything [Ngubeni] saw as a necessity for a black poor student.
Kubheka who met Ngubeni at Wits in 2014, and described him as being more than a friend to him. and He told Wits Vuvuzela about the many great things Ngubeni did to assist “the black child”.
“I remember he participated in the #FeesMustFall protests and many other protests at Wits. He was able to fight academic and financial exclusion. He was always at the forefront of helping students, especially those who are disadvantaged,” said Kubheka.
Ngubeni was the first person in his family to graduate, and by getting his education he wanted to change not just the lives of his family but the lives of all South Africans. Kubheka says it is this similarity in their stories that brought them together.
“I did not know [Ngubeni] prior to Wits, but over the years we developed a special relationship that went beyond comradeship and beyond being fellow Witsies. He was more like a brother to me,” Kubheka told Wits Vuvuzela.
Ngubeni was the first person in his family to graduate and by getting his education he wanted to change not just the lives of his family but the lives of all South Africans and Kubheka says it is this similarity in their stories that brought them together.
He said, “We both wanted to study and acquire our degrees and change the lives of our families and even the society and community we come from and live in. Both of us are the first generation in our families to go to university, so we had a huge task: that task was the same, which was to break the poverty chain.”
Kubheka further told Wits Vuvuzela about the many parts he played in fighting for disadvantaged students and a programme that Ngubeni started in 2020 to assist the less priviledged. “Last year we started a programme where we adopted rural and township schools. We assisted them with stationary, books, uniforms, calculators and everything [Ngubeni] saw as a necessity to a black poor student.
I remember he participated at the #FeesMustFall protests and many other protests at Wits, he was able to fight academic and financial exclusion. He was always at the forefront of helping students especially those who are disadvantaged.”
Wits SRC Deputy President Thembiso Dabula spoke at Ngubeni’s memorial service on February 26, 2021. Kubheka spoke very highly of Ngubeni and he wasn’t the only one.
Wits SRC Deputy President Thembiso Dabula spoke at Ngubeni’s memorial service on February 26, 2021.
“It is through [Ngubeni] that I learned there are two kinds of people who push the agenda of young people: The genuine and the ingenuine. He was genuine. He would always seek to support and impart knowledge,” said Dabula. said the Wits SRC Deputy President, Sthembiso Dabula speaking at Ngubeni’s memorial service on February 26, 2021.
Numbers of people paid their last respects to the late ANCYL secretary on social media.
Simphiwe Mavuso commented, “Good night my leader, the journey of leadership will no longer be the same,” on the live video of the memorial service posted by the Wits SRC on February 26.
At the time of his passing Ngubeni was serving as branch secretary of the ANCYL Dr Mxolisi Majombozi, and enrolled as a master of arts student at Wits University.
“He will always be in my heart. Even now I am still struggling with the fact that he is gone,” said Kubheka.
FEATURED IMAGE: Sabelo Ngubeni. Photo: Instagram
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