Alumni of Hans Kekana High School in Majaneng, Hammanskraal, Ms Moreen Motlalepula Wills (3 April 1961 – 11 October 2021) was laid to rest on Saturday 16 October 2021 at her home at 25572 Extension 23 in Jouberton. Ms Wills passed on at home on Monday, 11 October 2021.
Ms Wills was born on 3 April 1961 at Jouberton Location in Klerksdorp North West Province. During her secondary studies at Hans Kekana High School from 1978 to 1981, she developed her black political consciousness as part of the anti-homeland system protests that spread throughout many high schools in South Africa.
The black consciousness became part of the political milieu education during Ms Wills’s time at Hans Kekana High School, closely impacted by St Peter’s in Hammanskraal that hosted the historical launch of the Black People`s Convention (BPC) (16 to 17 December 1972).
Ms Wills started her primary school in 1968 at Masedi Lower Primary School and proceeded to Boitumelo Higher Primary School in Jouberton Location in Klerksdorp. She completed her secondary education at Hans Kekana High School in Majaneng, Hammanskraal in the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. She also furthered her tertiary education studies in Community Development/Social Work at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Vuselela Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Klerksdorp.
She was a long-standing member of the African National Congress and the ANC Women`s League in the North West and was described as a committed and passionate community activist who was “an icon of hope for the hopeless and vulnerable” especially children, women, and the elderly.
In her line of selfless duty to her community, she provided foster care services to orphaned children and child-headed families. She also assisted community members with access to government-related services.
Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour, Ms Boitumelo Pinky Moloi, who attended the funeral, said her relationship with Ms Wills spans over two decades.
She said she served with Ms Wills in the Regional Executive Committee (REC) of the African National Congress and the ANC Women`s League Committee in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Region.
“This was when I was Executive Mayor for Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and before I was Deputy Minister.”
“Moreen was a fearless advocate and campaigner against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and played a pivotal role to support victims of GBV and fighting for justice and conviction of the perpetrators of rape and sexual violence against many women and children in her community,” the Deputy Minister said.
As part of the spiritual send-off, from African Methodist Episcopal (AME) who presided over the funeral service, Reverend Mogashoa performed the final burial rites at the Heroes Acre section of the Jouberton Cemetery, after a moving sermon.
The funeral service was also addressed by the recently appointed Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana Municipality, Counsellor Rose Thabanchu, who shared the sentiments of many speakers who graced the podium. Speaker after speaker from family, community organizations, political parties as well as from her fellow congregants from the SP Maarohanye African Methodist Episcopal church, also paid moving tributes in the testimony of her values of compassion and selfless social welfare services to her local community, especially the poor and vulnerable communities.
The highly charged funeral service proceedings were attended by hundreds of mourners from the local community and afar, grazed by live performances from renowned gospel music singers including Sammy Malete, Tebogo Moloi, and a gospel group from Phokeng in Rustenburg.
Freedom and political struggle songs of praise were also sung by the mourners in celebration of her political activism as a member of the African National Congress and ANC Women`s League.
Ms Wills was raised by her late grandparents Oom Plaatjie and his wife Dibeng who were well-known local business families and well-respected members of the Jouberton community.
Sadly, in the last few years of her illustrious life, Ms Wills was gradually slowed down by episodes of ill-health to which she succumbed.
She will be sadly missed by her children, grandchildren, family, relatives, friends and her community.
She is survived by her two children Valentine Mokgatla “Trevor” Wills (Born 1981) and Valerie Cluwie Masechaba Ramaoka (1983) and three grandsons Phatshimo, Kgabo and Mokgatla as well as her three granddaughters Moedi, Loapi and Tlhomamo.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith”
2 Timothy, 4:6-7
