Opinion by Steve Naale – A seasoned communicator! To many of us, Comrade Sello Molibeli was an embodiment of many things, depending on how we remember him as different people, hence I am not astonished at the extraordinary reaction to the news of his demise, it came like a bolt from the blue, extremely untimely.
Steve Naale regards Sello Molibeli as a seasoned communicator
There comes a time in the life of every revolutionary, when after sunrise, the sun must set, and when that moment comes, the remailing revolutionaries should not be at a loss for words to describe the life and times of the fallen soldier. This time, it is the case with Comrade Sello Molibeli.
Many of us met Sello Molibeli at various stages of our lives, be that as it may, I met him while doing revolutionary duties, and vividly, we met during our days as community media journalists, during his tenure as the head of Communications and Marketing in Fezile Dabi district municipality.
The period that plays out loud in my mind was when we were preparing for the visit and sitting of the National Council of Province in Parys, ARWA to be specific. Cde Sello, like any tried and tested spokesperson, public participation or communication practitioner should know, media relations should be an art, mastered with humility, diligence and commitment, coupled with experience built over the years.
During one of the media sessions hosted at Lentswe FM studios, he emphasised that the NCOP will a watershed moment in the history of Fezile Dabi Region as the (former) President of the country, Cde Thabo Mbeki will be addressing the nation on key matters including Merafong demarcation debacle. I still remember how I captured the strategic approach by Pres Thabo Mbeki, using the Merafong situation on his way to his famous ‘I am an African’ signature. Therefore, there was no space for mediocrity, as that was a watershed stage in our lifetime, for we may never pass this way again. Myself and Thomas Nopheche were among the media functionaries. Thomas Nopheche went on to occupy the position left void by Cde Sello in subsequent years, while I got earmarked for Communications function in Ngwathe local municipality.
Trying to motivate one another as government communicators in a challenged arena, with its own dynamics, we coined ‘we are not giving up until we get it right’. It was during that period as young journalists we learned with comprehension how tactically Cde Sello mastered the art, unaware that in future we will find ourselves in his shoes.
Fast-forward, after we joined government communications in Fezile Dabi, myself, Thomas Nopheche, Dika Kheswa and Dr Gino Alberts, we were motivated and inducted into the political and government communications system by Cde Sello, Cde Qondile Khedama, Cde Thabo Meeko, Cde Oupa Khoabane, Cde Tembeni Skully Nxangisa, Cde Mandla Maseko (RIP), Cde Teboho Sikisi (RIP), to mention but a few. Even today, we still look upon those pioneers who are still standing.
In a nutshell, Comrade Sello will be remembered by different people, in different ways, be that as it may, we are proud to have worked with him both as a communicator, public participation practitioner and a cadre of our movement.
As government and political communicators and functionaries, we are not hesitant to say, he helped to shape strategies and tactics that we shall continue to use, not to popularize ourselves, but to respond to the fundamental challenges facing our people at all times.
For all of this, we salute you Comrade Sello and we say you have run your race. Ultimately, he joined a galaxy of stars such the late Teboho ‘Shoes’ Sikisi, who excellently strode across government and political communication like a colossal.
Amandla!
Steve Naale is the Spokesperson for Ngwathe local municipality, writing on his personal capacity!
Steve Naale, Ngwathe Municipality Spokesperson
CENTRAL NEWS
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