The cruelty of death has robbed the Department of Agriculture in Vhembe of three hardworking and dedicated employees. The three were laid to rest at their respective villages last Saturday.

The three officials who recently passed away are Mr Litshani Nepfumembe (43), Mr Andrew Ndadza (56) and Mrs Grace Rashaka (42).

Speaking at a memorial service that was held by the department at the Louis Trichardt Show Grounds last Thursday, the district manager of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Khathutshelo Muthala, said that the department had lost real soldiers who had dedicated themselves to their work in the department. “The three have contributed a lot to the department. We really valued the deceased´s contributions to the department. It is not only a loss to their families, but to the department as well,” he said

He described the death of the three as a terrible blow to the department. “We are seriously saddened by the death of the three because they still had so much to offer to this department. On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, I would like to extend our condolences to the bereaved family and assure them of our unending support during this trying moment. It is difficult for all of us to accept what happened, but we must also understand that God does His will in His own time,” said Muthala.

Rashaka was buried at the Masia Tshiphuseni graveyard, Ndadza at Madombidzha, while Nepfumembe was buried at Mbaleni.

Fellow employees attended the memorial service in numbers as a way of paying their last respects to the three.