Job Matshela Molepo (May 22, 1937 – January 26, 2015)Passed away on Monday the 26th of January, 2015 at the age of 77 years. Beloved husband of Joanie Molepo. Cherished father of Matheas Kotsekgolo Mandla, Thamisanga, Mante (Tyler Stearns) and Sidney (Laura Sehn). Devoted grandfather of Nicole, Matheas, Dineo and Eleyana. Survived by his sisters Melba and Salome. In memoriam, donations to the Parkdale United Church Refugee Sponsorship Fund are appreciated. www.kellyfh.caVisitation
Saturday, 31 Jan 2015 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Kelly Funeral Home – Orleans, 2370 St-Joseph Blvd, Orleans, ON, CANADA, K1C 1G1Funeral
Saturday, 31 Jan 2015 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Kelly Funeral Home – Orleans , 2370 St-Joseph Blvd, Orleans, ON, CANADA, K1C 1G1
Kelly Funeral Home – Orleans, 2370 St-Joseph Blvd, Orleans, ON, CANADA, K1C 1G1Funeral
Saturday, 31 Jan 2015 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Kelly Funeral Home – Orleans , 2370 St-Joseph Blvd, Orleans, ON, CANADA, K1C 1G1
Biography
JOB MATSHELA MOLEPO was born on the 22nd of May, 1937 in Lerouxville, Polokwane (formally known as Pietersburg), in the Limpopo province of South Africa to parents, Mary and Matthew. Matshela was one of seven children. In 1959, Matshela was one of the first black students to attend the tribal university of Turfloop in Apartheid South Africa. He helped mobilize students to collaborate with those at English universities, against segregated tertiary education. The following year, he and fellow student were expelled and escorted off campus by white police. In 1961, Matshela fled South Africa and travelled to Tanzania through neighbouring countries. He arrived in Germany in 1963, where he went on to complete a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Hannover in West Germany.
Matshela helped establish the African Student Organization of Hannover and served as President for three years. ASOH joined other anti-Apartheid groups in Germany to mobilize public opinion and to stage rallies against Apartheid. After graduation in 1976, Matshela and his wife returned to Africa, where he served as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in inorganic and analytical chemistry at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He then served as Chemical Consultant for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1983, Matshela and his family moved to Botswana where he was Senior Chemist at the Department of Geological Survey in Lobatse. He then served as a lecturer at the University of Botswana in Gabarone. Because of cross-border raids by the apartheid military into neighbouring countries targeting South Africans, Matshela and his family immigrated to Canada in 1987. Canada granted him citizenship and thus ended his long refugee status. He worked for the Ontario Health Research Centre from 1987 to 2005.
Matshela participated in establishing the South African Rainbow Association, which united black and white South African nationals in Ottawa. From 2000 to 2006, he served SARA as vice-President, President and past-President. Matshela was a founding member of the African Diaspora Association of Canada. He served as the first President of ADAC, whose two main objectives are to unite people of African descent to better their lives in Canada and to assist with the socio-economic development of African and Caribbean countries. ADAC was officially launched on June 2, 2008. Matshela is survived by his wife, Joanie, his three children Thami, Mante and Sidney, and his four grandchildren: Nicole, Matheas, Dineo, and Eleyana.
Tributes from Black Ottawa Dialogue
Irene Mlambo
My condolences to the Molepo family and the community at large. It was an honour and a privilege to serve with him in Africa Diaspora Association of Canada. He gave so much to the community and provided the foundation by which ADAC could stand. May God comfort the family in this time of sadness and loss.
Emma Ukwu
May God rest his soul.
Bibiana Nalwiindi Seaborn
May he rest peace. Hard to come to terms that Molepo has gone on this journey to the Lord, he was a special person in our midst, he is resting now in God’s hands. My sympathies to family and all his loved ones in South Africa and elsewhere. PEACE, PEACE .
Stachen Frederick
May he rest in peace. A beautiful soul
May his soul continue to rest in peace. I can’t stop crying. I was barely ten when I had the opportunity of meeting this man and his family. They’ve such a kind and loving family. I went to Carson grove elementary with his daughter Mante. I lived in the opposite building 1244 Donald street with my family. I am just broken and may God continue to comfort his wife and kids
Dear Joanie, Mante and Sydney….We only now, have learned of the passing of your dear husband and father. Today, I was thinking of you several times and wondering where you all were…so I googled Mante’s name and there I saw Matshela’s obituary. What a sad shock!! Now it will be three years since he is gone!! We are so sorry for your loss and the great void he will have made in the Canadian African community. Please accept our deepest condolences, even they come three years late….love mildred and john dyck
That’s my uncle I only saw him when he came to bury him brother uncle Standby Grant.My youngest brother is named after uncle Job.R.I.P Tlou.(elephant)