Africa-Press – Botswana. Renowned arts and craft reseller and a staunch Gaborone United supporter, Mr George Molele will be laid to rest his Old Naledi home on February 17.
Mr Molele had been a constant figure at the Main Mall since the 1960s, where he resold a variety of arts and craft in front of the Botswana Book Centre, and was also known to many as a walking encyclopedia of the transformation of Gaborone due to his longevity in the city.
In an interview, his nephew and family spokesperson Mr Thabo Dithebe indicated that Mr Molele had not been well since November last year.
“He started complaining of constant sweating in November and since then he has not really been well.
This weekend on Saturday his neighbours called me after they noticed that he was struggling, and on Sunday I took him to Princess Marina Hospital where he was admitted.
The following day they did the tests, but unfortunately, we lost him that very night around 10pm,” he said.
In a previous interview with BOPA about his business, Mr Molele had indicated his desire to relocate to his native Ramotswa as he said that old age had now caught up with him, and he indicated that he was still in the process of constructing a structure at his home before he ‘retired’. Unfortunately, he passed on before his dream could be realised.
One of his fellow artefacts reseller, Mr Baeti Ramodise had described Mr Molele as a good hearted man whom they often went to whenever they had challenges, either financial or private issues. He said that their relationship had blossomed despite selling similar items.
Tributes have been pouring in on social media for Mr Molele, with one fellow reseller, Mr Tonie Anton promising to ‘Make sure that our spot lives forever’, and that his legacy shall continue to live forever.
Another fan, Mr Martin Monna posted that with the demise of Mr Molele ‘The Main Mall will never be the same again. I have seen this man there basically all my life,’ he said.
His post was reiterated by another fan, one Gladys Ramadi, who said that she was saddened by the passing of Mr Molele, and that indeed the Main Mall had lost an icon.
“I admired him for his work ethic and wondered if he would ever retire,” she posted.
Most social media well-wishers described Mr Molele as a father, legend, a humble and calm man with good demeanor among other accolades, and that his death was a loss to the whole country.
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