16/09/2026
It is with sadness that Sedibeng Sa Bophelo Community Project announce the passing of its Founder, First Project Manager, and Long Serving Board Member Mme Rebecca Tlalane Sebudi. Mme MaSebudi, as she was fondly called, passed away after a long illness.
Mme MaSebudi was an educator by profession. She was an old school type of educator who embraced the real concept of teaching as a vocation, not a career. The dedication, passion and care she showed as an educator did not end the day she went on retirement. Most people when the retirement age reaches them consider complete detachment from any kind of work related or active societal participation. Mme MaSebudi identified a fatal challenge in the community of Mapetla and surrounding areas. Around the late 90s and the turn of the century HIV/Aids was ravaging our communities. This resulted in early deaths of millions of young parents due to the HIV/Aids pandemic. This sad situation brought with it even more challenges including amongst them the mushrooming of child headed households, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, People Living with HIV and Aids and People Affected by HIV and Aids. Mme Masebudi brought together a group of like-minded concerned women from the Mapetla East Methodist Church to establish Sedibeng Sa Bophelo Community Project. Throughout her association with Sedibeng Sa Bophelo Community Project, she touched a lot of souls in a comforting, motherly warmth she always had. She brought hope to many, put a lot of unemployed young people in skills development trainings with some being placed in full- time employment. She put food on the tables of the hungry. On her retirement from Sedibeng Sa Bophelo as an active Project Manager she did not go home to rest. She proceeded with the organization in the capacity od a Board Member. Though most of the Board Meetings happened in the early evenings, Mme MaSebudi was always the first to arrive and last to leave. She was an epitomy of what governance is and what being a board member is all about. Mme MaSebudie opened a lot of donation doors in different areas of society. She brought in big food outlets like Woolworths, Fournos, Debonair's Pizza amongst others to donate food items to the organization. She was always available even at short notice to attend donor meetings and events. One of the highlights of her involvement as a board member was her presence on a very short notice, and on a heavy rainy day, to welcome the Tanzanian Members of Parliament(including the Vice President) and the Gauteng Health Dignitaries at Sedibeng Sa Bophelo Community Project(see shown photo). This was a total demonstration of professionalism, work ethic, determination, passion and deep heartfelt care for humanity. A trait that is fast eluding our people. When one talks about "UBUNTU" Mme MaSebudi's name rings louder than any other name.
I had the pleasure of working alongside her since I volunteered at the organization to my becoming the Organization's Project Manager. A role in which she fully supported me and became one of my go-to mentors.
She will be dearly missed by all who experienced her care, warmth, passion and humanity.
Sedibeng Sa Bophelo Community Project expresses our heartfelt condolences to Mme MaSebudi's Family, her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, colleagues and fellowship associates.
Mme MaSebudi lives in our hearts forever through the wonderful memories we shared with her, the impact she made in our differnt lives.
May Her Beautiful Soul Rest in Peace.
Thabo S. Makete
Project Manager
