A trailblazer who was compassionate, honest and a leader who knew when to step down.
This was how speaker after speaker described former KwaNobuhle mayor and businessman Ponana Tini during a gravestone unveiling and commemoration ceremony on Tuesday.
More than 10 years since he died in 2008 at the age of 68, Tini’s life was celebrated by family, friends and the SA Funeral Practitioners’ Association with a tombstone unveiling in Uitenhage.
As one of the first black funeral undertakers in Uitenhage, Tini helped bury victims of the Langa Massacre and supplied coffins free.
This was revealed by Tini’s friend, Philani Ntsiko, who described him as a compassionate and supportive man.
“After the forced removals I found myself living in KwaNobuhle – and he also lived there,” Ntsiko said.
“When we looked at the state of the houses we were living in, we decided to [be] part of the council so that when freedom and democracy finally arrived we were ready.
“During the Langa Massacre, he bore the brunt and had to bury people.
“He told me that he had to supply coffins for about 11 people. I asked him at what price and he told me there was no price,” Ntsiko said.
“The same community later threw stones at his house.”
Ntsiko said the volatile political environment in 1984 meant Tini had to relocate his children elsewhere.
At the time, angry residents were demanding that all black councillors in KwaNobuhle resign from the town council.
“The naming of the street after Tini was not a mistake – he has done so much for Uitenhage,” Ntsiko said.
Tini’s former business partner and comrade, Mike Nqakula, said Tini’s influence was evident when he helped uncover a scandal involving an undertaker who had been awarded a tender to bury pauper inmates.“The person who had won the tender didn’t have a fridge and we knew he was keeping the bodies at his house.
“Lume [Tini’s nickname] managed to get the story on national news – that is how powerful he was.”
Nqakula said Tini had later encouraged him to start his own funeral parlour despite also being in the funeral industry – proof that Tini wanted to see others succeed.
“He taught us a nature of helping others,” he said.
ANC councillor Bicks Ndoni said leaders today should learn from Tini and step down when people make the call.
“He had a major impact during 1985 and those were turbulent times. Uitenhage was a hotspot,” Ndoni said.
“When there was a call [for councillors to resign] as a leader he made a critical decision and resigned.
“[This] helped in such a way that there were no more casualties in Uitenhage. He used his influence.
“But today we have leaders who refuse to step down when the masses say so.”
Tini’s eldest daughter, Beulah Tini-Lumkwana, said the commemoration could not have been held at a better time.
“That this ceremony is held in Mandela month is not a coincidence – my father loved Nelson Mandela and respected his principles,” she said.
“Our father empowered everyone, [starting] with us. Our home was an extension of his office. There were always people who had problems but they always left satisfied.”