Socialite turns to God before his death

Many people remember Mr Azwidohwi Erick Sidimela, commonly known as Jege, of Makonde as a socialite who would enjoy any type of alcohol he came across.

Things turned bad when he fell ill and was admitted to Donald Fraser Hospital. Just a week before he died at the age of 62, Jege asked to be baptised by a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in his hospital bed. He also asked the minister to administer holy communion to him.

Although the mourners were grieving, they sang and danced as Jege’s widow, Elisa Sidimela, received church membership, a baptismal certificate and a hymn book on behalf of her husband during the funeral service at Makonde Lutheran Church on Saturday. 

Representing the family, Mr David Sidimela, who is also a minister of the Lutheran Church, said Jege was one of the luckiest people. He said the family was very proud of Jege’s decision on his deathbed. “In fact, we knew him as someone who did not want to hear anything about the word of God. I was surprised and happy at the same time when he insisted that we baptise him. I took it very seriously and immediately arranged with the church to baptise him. His new faith was sealed by the administration of Holy Communion. His bold decision is a lesson for all of us that God does not care how we started our life journey, but He cares about how we finish our race. Indeed, Jege’s death should serve as a link between the family and the church. I guess that the friends who used to drink with Jege will be surprised that he took such a major decision to reconcile with his Creator.”

Jege’s wife, Mrs Elisa Sidimela, said she never thought that her husband’s memorial and funeral services would be held at the church. “When the pastor told me that my husband wanted to be baptised in hospital, I welcomed it whole heartedly. I was a bit emotional when I received his baptismal certificate during his funeral. I wished he was alive to receive it himself. We have accepted that my husband is gone, but we are happy that he passed on after making a covenant with God. We will follow in his footsteps, because he has taught us that Jesus can save everyone, regardless of how sinful we lived before we repent.”

Tshifhiwa Sidimela, the deceased’s daughter, thanked the church for facilitating her father’s baptism during his final days. “I have no doubt that the angels are happy to receive him. We are very proud of our father because he died a heroic death.”  

Jege was born on 4 December 1955 at Makonde Shadani. He attended school at Ravhura and Makonde Primary Schools before he left and worked as a chef in Johannesburg and later in the then Venda Sun in Thohoyandou. He was employed by the Department of Public works as a general worker in 1983 until he retired last year.

He was buried at the family burial site at Shadani on Saturday.

News - Date: 25 September 2017

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