Katlego Moeng

Katlego Moeng

The community of Rustenburg, North West, has lost a passionate servant and youth worker with the passing of Jacob Rantaja Makgaka, who died shortly before the clock struck midnight ushering in 2009 on December 31.

He succumbed to pneumonia at Phokeng Health Centre where he worked as a nurse.

Makgaka had been a nurse for 25 years after starting his career at Mafikeng Hospital.

Apart from volunteer work at rural Rankelenyane and Maile mobile clinics, Makgaka had a passion for teaching the youth dancing.

He specialised in the tango, which he taught for 15 years at Phokeng civic centre and six schools in the area.

Paying tribute to her uncle, Tebogo Mosito said: "He was going to turn 50 in July but you wouldn't say so. He was a fun-loving person who liked jokes. He was really friendly."

Makgaka leaves behind his 10-year-old son Itumeleng, five siblings and his mother Caroline and father Stoney.

Makgaka will be buried tomorrow at Luka in Rustenburg. The funeral service will start at 7am at 912 Mabye section in Luka.