Service delivery in the Thulamela and Mutale municipality areas has been dealt a severe blow by the passing away of a well-known fighter for workers’ rights last week.

Mr Tshifhiwa Neluheni (44) of Thohoyandou joined the department in 1987 and worked his way up. He became a labour inspector dealing specifically with the Basic Conditions of Employment, administering the Labour Relations Act. Last week, hundreds of mourners converged at his home in Thohoyandou P East to pay their last respects. Amongst the mourners were officials who travelled all the way from the head office in Pretoria and the provincial leadership.

Speaker after speaker spoke fondly of Neluheni. Paying tribute, the Provincial Executive Manager; Department of Labour, Mr Malindi Tshidavhu, said the department had lost a great man in Neluheni. He said Neluheni never looked back when faced with challenges, but sailed on in the quest to serve his own people. "He is a true son of the soil, a highly skilled cadre who performed his duties with pride and had been part of this happy family for the past 21 years," he said.

"Our department is undergoing transformation and this is the time that people of Neluheni´s caliber are needed, people with much-needed skills,´´ he said. He urged all colleagues to honor Neluheni by dedicating their efforts to their duties and continuing from where he left off. "This is the best gift we could ever give to our fallen colleague," he said.

Mr Nthatheni Ramulongo, the regional manager at Thohoyandou, said the office will never be the same without Neluheni. He said Neluheni was a fearless fighter for workers’ rights and was always prepared to go an extra mile in serving his community. "A void has been left and it will be very hard to find a replacement," he said.

A family representative, Mr Namadzavho Ndou, said the family was still expecting good things from him. He said he was still young and still had a lot to offer to the family and the community." He was a pillar of the whole family, always ready to help everybody in the family," he said. He said the family had been robbed of a true leader who always gave direction whenever asked to. "We shall always remember his good works and he will be sorely missed; a void has been created in the family," he said.

Neluheni is survived by his wife and four children and was buried at Mbaleni cemetery.