A shoulder to cry on in a time of need
Tebogo Moobi
When people in her community were having difficulties in their marriages or relationships, they turned to gogo Evelyn Tlhabane for wisdom and advice.
She saved many marriages and provided comfort to many families – along with spinach and vegetables from her garden.
Everyone passing her house in Ga Rankuwa, Tshwane, knew that gogo Evelyn would be in her garden tending to her vegetables.
She would greet everyone and engage in small conversation, making sure that people were fine and giving hope to those who needed it.
With her house located a few feet away from Phedisong 4 Clinic, in Zone 4 Ga-rankuwa, she brought hope to sick people passing by her house.
Her daughter, Queen, said her church-going mother was everything and her friend.
Every morning the two would wake up together early and drink tea while chatting about life. She was a teetotaller who consumed many cups of tea in a day.
“When I was troubled I would tell her and she always knew what to say to make me feel better.”
She was admitted to Steve Biko Academic Hospital where she was taken for a blood transfusion. It was there that she died of Covid-19 related complications on 22 December 2020.
Queen said though she now has to face every morning without her mother she will always remember her teachings.
“She would say I should not sleep on someone else’s feet but stand on my own and rely on myself to avoid disappointment.”
