The family of Meiki Grace Masuku, said she will be remembered for her remarkable knowledge of indigenous plants and her work as a nature conservationist.
In her life, Masuku won over twenty accolades, including the coveted Ma-Afrika Award and the Order of the Baobab in Silver for her outstanding contribution in the field of environmental conservation. According to the family, she used to dedicate her time to visiting numerous villages to provide training and ideas for businesses based on traditional values and knowledge.
Her first project, Letswanana, continues to yield herbs that are used to treat diseases. Her most public project, Podi-Boswa (meaning ‘goat, our inheritance’), has provided more than 1 000 people with sustainable livelihoods through producing leather products from goat-hides that had been discarded prior to the Podi-Boswa venture.
The Podi-Boswa programme was implemented to train people in the production of leather skins and products. It was not long before they started seeing profits.
The project has since won the support of the World Conservation Union and the Agricultural Research Council. Podi-Boswa was also one of the eight projects showcased by South Africa at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
The 91-year-old traditionalist, former principal from Moruleng Village outside Rustenburg and an elder in the Bakgatla ba Kgafela Royal family passed away on Monday, 12 June 2023, in Hospital surrounded by family.
The Nonagenarian had five children – three sons and two daughters and one of the sons passed away in 2017. She is survived by two sons and two daughters.
Masuku’s cousin, Ntshadi Tsheole described her as an icon who joined the government in the 1980s in the Department of Arts and Culture and used the opportunity to empower herself and to develop a deep knowledge about indigenous practices.
‘’Her main concentration was based on the indigenous conservation plants and nature conservation. She was very knowledgeable about herbs and prophecies even though she was not a traditional healer as most of the people believe she was.
“She wanted to inculcate moral values among the youth, and also wanted to teach girl children how to take care of themselves so they can become better women. She felt passionately about grooming girl-children, teaching them how to use contraceptives, ‘’ said Tsheole.
One of Masuku’s daughters, Mpho, said her mother was outspoken and strict at the same time and always called a spade a spade. When her mother didn’t like something she would always say it like it is and never sugar coated it.
Mpho also learnt a lot from her mother, especially forgiveness and Masuku always told her children to forgive those who hurt them and “leave everything to God,” she said.
Masuku will be laid to rest on Sunday, 18 June 2023, at the Legkraal Cemetery near Moruleng.
