There was sadness when Makhado municipal officials paid their last respects to one of their colleagues and a friend who had recently passed away after a short illness.

Many officials are still shocked about the untimely death of a dedicated, committed, disciplined and charismatic official, Mr Philip Maraga (49), who was working as a disaster management officer at the municipality when he passed away. Maraga was laid to rest at the Tshakhuma cemetery last Saturday.

Maraga joined the municipality in 2001 and worked at the municipality´s Vuwani regional office. In 2007 he was transfared to municipal headquaters in Louis Trichardt, where he worked as a disaster management officer until his death.

“We are greatly saddened about the untimely death of Maraga. We have really lost a dedicated and disciplined official who was always committed to his work. Our municipality has been robbed of a committed employee and we will miss him," said the Makhado Municipality´s community services director, Mr Elias Mugari, at a memorial service that was held at the Louis Trichardt Show Grounds last Friday.