Late Bophuthatswana strongman Lucas Mangope’s daughter in law has passed away.
Rosemary Ntshebo Mangope died on Saturday but there are no details on what claimed her life. She was married to the late homeland leader’s son Kwena.
Centre marketing manager Kgalalelo Molotsi confirmed the passing.
“No, it’s not a rumour,” she told Sunday World when told that there was the rumour doing the rounds.
Molotsi said since she joined the centre in early 2000s, she was not in contact with the family to know further details.
“But some of my colleagues who have been here longer will know more.”
Founded the Mmabana Cultural Centre in the late 1980s
The founder of Mmabana Culture Centre later became CEO of the National Arts Council (NAC). Indeed a colossal but controversial figure in the arts and culture field.
She was fingered in wrongdoing pertaining to the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) fund disbursement in 2021.
The PESP provided Covid-19 related relief to cultural workers, who had to apply to the NAC for the benefit.
Forensic investigators found the funds had been misused, so Mangope was charged after she was directly implicated.
Resigned while the disciplinary hearing was in progress
She was forced to defend herself in a disciplinary hearing but before it concluded, she agreed to the termination of contract.
It was later reported that she had also been given a gold handshake.
At the dawn of democracy in 1995, Mail and Guardian reported that Mangope continued to collect a salary for 18 months despite having fled the homeland and not presenting herself to work.
This followed the uprising that toppled her father-in-law back then.
With the crowds baying for Lucas Mangope’s blood, the family relocated. Rosemary eventually settled in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. She continued to use a luxury saloon the centre allocated to her. It also paid for her petrol.
Suspended on full pay
Mangope was also suspended from the centre pending the conclusion of a Skweyiya commission investigation.
Then chief director of legal services in the North-West, advocate Nico Jagga told Mail and Guardian that the centre suspended Mangope. “The fact that she’s under suspension does not mean she has been denied the rights that she has as chief executive director.” Since the centre was funded by the government, the centre fell under the jurisdiction of the North West government.
This is a developing story and Sunday World will update it as and when further details become available.
