PEOPLE change over time.
The friends we met at school often fade away and are replaced by new friends as our lives and ambitions take us to new places.
But for some people, their friendships endure. The members of Harnet Stars Brotherhood met each other in the 1960s and remained fast comrades.
Secretary Amos Mahlangu said, after retiring from Harnet Stars, a football team football, in 2008, they started a burial society.
“We played for Harnet Stars, an amateur kasi team from kwaThema in Springs.
“We retired and moved from football to saving money for bad times.”
They hold the monthly meetings at different member’s homes on the second Sunday of the month.
At the gatherings, each member pays R120. Of this, R20 pays for refreshments. The rest is saved in the society account.
If a main member or spouse dies, the grieving family is given R10 000 to cover burial expenses.
The payout for member’s dependents is R4 000.
The friends have never turned their backs on one another since they first became friends.
“We will always be there for each other, to support each other.”
While many of the members of Harnet Stars Brotherhood are retirees from the football team, this is not a requisite to becoming a member. Over the years, the members changed their minds and allowed more than former soccer teammates to join.
“We do want more members, so everyone is welcome to join us. Those interested must pay R1 000 joining fee and go through a six-month probationary period before they become full members.”
