A Life Rooted in Love and Faith
The community of Soshanguve is mourning the passing of Jakaminah Magdeline Mmotlana, affectionately known as Mane, who departed peacefully on 19 June 2026 at the age of 71, just days before her 72nd birthday.
Born on 27 June 1954 in Stormvoel, Mamelodi, the late Ms Mmotlana was the sixth child of the late Leah and Jeremiah Mushi. Raised in a close-knit family, she grew up grounded in values of resilience, humility, and faith, principles that would guide her throughout her life.
She began her education at Mangolwane Primary School, continued at Gamelodi Higher Primary, and completed her Standard 8 at Mamelodi High School. Her formative years reflected the determination of a young woman committed to building a meaningful life despite life’s challenges.
She later married her beloved husband, Daniel Lesibana Mmotlana. Their union was one marked by devotion and partnership, and together they raised seven children. Over the years, her family grew to include 18 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, each of whom became a cherished part of her legacy. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her other siblings, and is survived by her three brothers and a large extended family who continue to honour her memory.
To those who knew her best, Jakaminah’s life was defined not by grand gestures but by quiet consistency, love, and service. She was a woman deeply rooted in her Christian faith, a belief reflected in both her daily living and her final farewell. Her funeral programme, led by Pastor Boitumelo and attended by church representatives, family, neighbours, and members of the Thusanang Burial Society, testified to a life that touched many across spiritual and community circles.
Yet perhaps her greatest sanctuary was found in her garden. Friends and family recall her hands often deep in the soil, tending plants with patience and devotion. Gardening was more than a hobby, it was her prayer, her peace, and her second home. In nurturing flowers, she also nurtured gratitude, perseverance, and unconditional love within her family. Her garden became a living metaphor for her life: steady, life-giving, and quietly beautiful.
During her farewell service, tributes flowed from children, grandchildren, neighbours, and representatives of both the Mmotlana and Mmushi families. Their words painted a portrait of a matriarch whose strength anchored generations. From sunrise on 27 June 1954 to sunset on 19 June 2026, her journey was one of purpose and grace.
In a message remembered by her family, she encouraged them to keep her stories alive and to share them with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren so they would always know who she was. And perhaps most tenderly, she left them with a simple request: when they see a flower bloom, they should think of her.
As Soshanguve and the Mamelodi community bid farewell to Jakaminah Magdeline Mmotlana, her legacy continues to flourish, in the faith she upheld, the family she nurtured, and the love she planted in every life she touched.
Robala ka kgotso, Mane. You will always be loved.
