He was honoured and deservedly so, Sam Nape played a huge role in the lives of many people in the city of eMalahleni and other places.
Not only was he a founder of the Sunday School Foundation but dedicated his life to helping people in different spheres of life.
Organiser of the Sunday School Rally Pastor Nkosi explained that due to the Covid-19 restrictions after Sam passed away a memorial service could not be held so that is why they felt befitting to honour him.
Nape family members were invited to grace the event and they thanked the organisers for honouring him.
Sam played a great role in church activities, and community matters and education was important to him.
One of the speakers said Sam travelled a lot trying to unite communities and always captured those memories with the camera he always carried along when travelling on his bicycle.
Sam always shared whatever he had with other people.
His love for children made him start the Sunday School Foundation and he made sure that it spread to other places like Middelburg, Pretoria, Ogies, Springs and other places.
Guest speaker at the event, Lassy Chiwayo referred to himself as one of Sam’s ‘products’. He is an eMalahleni-born politician, diplomat and businessman.
He is a former mayor of Mbombela and later joined the diplomatic services representing the country in Japan.
He rose to prominence in the 1980s as an anti-apartheid activist and a young inmate of Robben Island and was once in the Nelson Mandela cabinet.
In his speech, he talked about laying the foundation for young children which was Sunday school.
He added to address the importance of mother nature and that the church plays an important role.
“Children need a good foundation and nothing is more important than the church and education. In all phases of our life, the church is always there to guide us. Children need to learn that from an early age. We all went through those phases in life and that made us what we are now, proper foundation, guidance and support. Sam was a community leader and we learned a lot from him. He was always humble but very disciplined and strict. He treated all of us like his children and developed us to sing and be able to speak in front of people and by so doing he was empowering us. He was always clean and neat and encouraged us to follow suit. He was one of the legends of the city and he should be honoured accordingly,” said Chiwayo.
Pastor Nkosi served the people with the holy communion and children in their different churches, presented songs, recited bible verses, drama, and dances.
The Sunday school teachers were thanked for the role they played in shaping the lives of the children.
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