Trust donates house to Morolong family
Victor Mulangisi
A spine-chilling account of the late hero Taolo Joseph Morolong affectionately known as Joe Morolong, after which one of the municipalities is named, revealed why his family was feeling indebted to both the state and community. In response to that clarion call, the John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust (JTGDT) delivered the answer.
On November 25, 2020 the executive of John Taolo Gaetsewe Developmental Trust handed over a magnificent three bedroomed house the trust had built for the fallen hero’s family, represented by Mr Taolo Joseph Morolong.
The house has two garages, built-in kitchen units, is completely fenced and has all the mod-cons found in a modern house.
The late stalwart was assassinated in 1977 in his home village of Montsheng by apartheid regime soldiers.
The building was started last year in November, but was not completed on time, due to theCovid-19 outbreak that led to a lockdown. It was after the partial lifting of the lockdown that the house was completed in September this year.
The current leadership deemed it necessary to honour the gallant hero of the region after extensive consultations with the family which led to the trust acceding to the befitting request.
The honorary event witnessed the presence of dignitaries from different corners of the province and beyond. Notable were representatives from the premier’s office, the executive mayor Boitumelo Mahlangu of Ruth Segomotsi Mompathi district municipality from the North West, alongside the local leadership that included Mr Peace Leserwane, ANC regional secretary, Mr Neo George Masegela – ANC Chairman and mayor of Ga-Segonyana local municipality, mayor Dineo Leutlwetse of Joe Morolong, traditional leadership that included paramount Chief Pelonomi Toto of Batlharos and Chief Bakang Petlhu of Camden, councilors and departmental heads from government.
Expressing words of encouragement, mayor Mahlangu said that it had been a noble decision to bestow honour to the Morolong family by building them a house in memory of their father and grandfather respectively. She was very clear that they had named one of the hospitals in the North West after the same hero, Mr Joe Morolong.
Consolidating what the visiting mayor had said, the chief executive officer of the trust Mr Tumelo Mpolokeng, said that the trust shall continue to bestow honour to the illustrious people of the region by rendering high impact projects that will remain a legacy to the entirety of the region.
Presenting her keynote address, the trust board member, Chairperson Ms Cynthia Ipeleng Mogodi went through the rough trail of the late hero Taolo Joseph Morolong who was born in 1927. Mr Morolong was in the same league of incarceration with the late President Nelson Mandela. He was, however, not sent to jail, but was under tight reconnaissance from the apartheid police.
When the police failed to find him, the community in the neighbourhood and families called for his retrieva,l hence the village was later called Montsheng meaning “Retrieve him” He was closely monitored from time to time which led to his eventual assassination.
