Temba Heritage Series: From Hope to Action through Knowledge
A Tribute to Mwalimu (The Great Teacher) Edwin Thabo Tsiane (1926-2025)
Ntate Edwin Thabo Tsiane (1926-2025) passed away on January 16, 2025, just a month shy of his 99th birthday, which would have been celebrated on February 14, 2025. Born on the same day in 1926 in the rural village of Lebotlwane, north of Hammanskraal, he was the firstborn of Sedirwa and Magdeline Tsiane, who were later blessed with four more children: Rebecca Machaba, Johanna Matlhodi Tsiane, Ruth Setlogano Kgorabo, and Mosire John Tsiane.
His remarkable teaching career spanned over 25 years, from 1950 to 1975, during which he served 15 years as an educator and 10 years as a headmaster. Ntate Tsiane’s exceptional skills in teaching, school administration, and leadership played a pivotal role in establishing modern primary school education across various rural villages in the North West and Mpumalanga provinces. This wealth of experience culminated in his position as the first principal of Itireleng Higher Primary School, which he led from its inception in 1968 until 1975.
After earning his teaching qualification in 1949 from the prestigious Kilnerton College in Pretoria, he began his career at Mmabudu Primary School in the rural village of Makapanstad, North West province. His dedication led him to establish Ratlhagane Primary School in Mmametlhake village, where he later contributed to the development of Moretele Primary School. His successes earned him a transfer to Tladistad Primary School. Eventually, his successes brought him back to Makapanstad Primary School, where he was invited by the late Kgosi Victor Makapan to enhance its standards due to its royal house affiliation.
Ntate Tsiane was a foundational figure in modern elementary education for the Temba community, serving as the inaugural headmaster of Itireleng Higher Primary School. Initially named Mmabolepo Higher Primary School, it was later renamed Itireleng Higher Primary School under the remarkable leadership of Mwalimu Edwin Thabo Tsiane. The school launched with just two teachers—Mrs. Setshedi and Mrs. Mosaka—and two classrooms with desks donated from the nearby Leboneng Primary School. In its inaugural year, Itireleng accommodated fifty-five learners in standards 3 and 6, achieving impressive academic results and establishing itself as a hub of excellence in sports, music, and drum majorettes—a source of pride for the community.
Alongside four other primary schools—Lefofa, Mosaledi, Refitlhile, and Reneilwe—Itireleng emerged in response to the burgeoning population in Temba, founded in 1942. Before the 1960s, Temba boasted only two primary schools: Kudube Primary and Leboneng Primary. The only nearby educational facilities before this were located in Majaneng village under Chief Hans Kekana, who tragically died in a car accident on December 1, 1962, at the young age of thirty.
Ntate Tsiane’s legacy transcends his academic contributions. He was also a celebrated choirmaster, delighting audiences with theatrical performances that showcased his learners’ musical talents. The memories of his melodic guidance and the angelic voices he nurtured will resonate in the Temba community and beyond for generations to come.
His successors—Ntate Monnakgotla (1975-1986), Ntate Tlhokoe (1986-1993), Mrs. Danke (1994-1999), and current principal Andries Makgopa—unfailingly acknowledge the formidable foundation laid by Ntate Tsiane. His enduring educational legacy has withstood the test of time, proving to be a priceless gift to the people of Temba and the broader Hammanskraal community.
As the community mourns his passing, it is evident that the name Edwin Thabo Tsiane will be permanently etched in the annals of Temba’s educational history. He stands as a symbol of hope and enlightenment during the formative years of education in the region, alongside other pioneering headmasters who shaped the learning landscape in Temba.
Notable figures in this lineage of primary education luminaries in Temba include Musetji Andries Setshedi (1907-1982), the first principal of Kudube Primary School; Clifford Malatji “Bango” Thobejane (1927-2007), who contributed to the establishment of Mmamotse Primary School; Sophy Violet Dammie (1927), founding principal of Lefofa Primary School; Adolph Phalatse, founding headmaster of Selang Primary School; Ntate Sefara (founding headmaster of Legoso/Reneilwe Primary School); Ntate Ramasodi (founding headmaster of Mosaledi Primary School); and Ntate Lekgathe (Refitlhile Primary School), among others. Each of these leaders played a significant role in cultivating an educational environment in Temba.