AFTER delaying his ancestral journey for a while, Joe Tshabalala finally answered his calling in April.
The 47-year-old was supposed to graduate on Saturday, 1 October, but that is the day he’ll be buried.
This after he fell sick and was admitted to hospital. He then died on Sunday, 25 September.
Joe’s family said he suffered from a chronic disease and had been seriously ill for a while.
According to his sister, Mangoe (28), he had been ill for almost a month.
“We are grieving and in pain, but other people are joking about his death,” she said.
She said that Joe was training as a thwasa at home in Mapetla in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane.
He was being trained by his mother, Regina (63), who is a traditional healer and gobela.
Mangoe said the family was preparing for his graduation this weekend, but were now making arrangements for his funeral instead.
“My brother was a loving person, caring, always smiling, and he loved to socialise with young people,” she said.
She told Daily Sun that Joe was like a father to her.
“My brother was seriously ill and he was struggling to breathe before he died.
“He was in intensive care unit. He was asking about everyone at home, wondering if they were alright. We had hoped that he’d pull through,” said Mangoe.
Regina said she had always known Joe would be a sangoma.
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“My son cried non-stop when he was two months old until we named him Joe. He then stopped crying and was happy,” she said.
Joe’s aunt, Helen (65), said: “We were shocked by his death. We were still expecting so much from him.”
The family said Joe was a Jehovah’s Witnesses pastor for almost 10 years until he decided to answer his calling.
He will be buried at Kgabalatsane Cemetery tomorrow.
