Community mourns Madigage's passing

Bafana Bafana assistant coach Thomas Madigage passed away last night.(SABC)

Tags:

• Driekop
• Bafana Bafana
• Thomas Madigage
• Polokwane
• Africa
• 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
• SAFA House

Residents of Driekop, the home village of Bafana Bafana assistant coach Thomas Madigage who died in a car accident last night, are mourning his death. Madigage had returned home yesterday to finalise the launch of a Sports Academy in the rural Tubatse Municipal area. He had spent the day with community members at the launch of a water project.

He died on his way to Polokwane, where he was to spend the night before meeting government officials to discuss the launch which was scheduled for next month.

Community members describe him as a community builder. He had plans to develop young sports stars in the villages. His visit yesterday was meant to finalise those plans which would bear fruit from the third of November.

Police Accident Response experts say it appears Madigage's car swerved off his lane to avoid hitting a donkey on-coming traffic when he smashed into a trailer.

His family is still reeling from the shock as they had just seen him in high spirits. "Yesterday, I was with him from 6h30 until 9h00. He was coming to see me because I am ill. We made jokes and everything then he left at 8h45," says family representative George Ranto.

Meanwhile, what was meant to have been a ceremony celebrating Africa, turned out to be a sombre affair as the football fraternity remembered Madigage. The Local Organising Committee of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations held a flag raising ceremony for the 16 participating nations at SAFA House which was preceded by a memorial service with prayer and words of comfort after Madigage's sudden passing.

The South African flag at SAFA House will hang half mast until after Madigage's funeral and a moment of silence will be observed for him at this weekend's Telkom Knockout and National First Division fixtures.

Madigage leaves behind his mother, a brother, three sisters, three wives and seven children.

Funeral arrangements are underway.