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News - Date: 04 February 2005
HA-MANGILASI – A former Venda Minister of Finance, Chief Etienne Nesengani, who died on January 12, was laid to rest in the royal cemetery at Ha-Mangilasi Village last Saturday.
The late Chief Nesengani died peacefully at the age of 78 at his kraal, Ha-Mangilasi Village, outside Thohoyandou.
He received his primary school education at Mulenzhe, Piet Booi, Pfukane and Kuruleni, and passed Std 6 in 1944. He proceeded to Lemana for his Secondary education, which he completed in 1949.
After passing matric, he went to the Pretoria Bantu Normal College, where he trained as a secondary school teacher. In 1952, he obtained his Transvaal Secondary School Diploma.
In 1953, he assumed duty as a teacher at Douglas Laing Secondary School and Lemana Training College. In 1954 he got married to Merriam Hondwane Nkalane. The couple had four children. In the course of his teaching career, he proceeded with a BA degree, which he started at the Normal College, as an external student of the University of South Africa. At the end of 1957, he completed this degree with Native Administration and History as mayor subjects.
Active and diligent, he distinguished himself as musician and choirmaster of high standing. He was an author and examiner of both Xitsonga and Tshivenda. He published an anthology of Xitsonga poems, Mintlhokovetselo ya Xitsonga, which enjoyed wide reading.
In July 1959, he was offered a post as primary school teacher at Mphephu Combined Primary and Secondary School. When the school was divided in 1961, he headed the Secondary School. Under his leadership, Junior Certificate results rose from 43% in 1961 to 100% in 1965, third in South Africa.
The school also performed well in extra-mural activities as well as in music competitions. In the teachers Association, he played a leading role and rose to the position of District Secretary.
Between 1965 and 1968, he was a Supervisor of schools in the Louis Trichardt West and East Circuits. In 1969 he became circuit Inspector of Vhuronga Circuit and used this same building as an office and a dwelling house. In that same year, he was a speaker in the Thohoyandou Territorial Authority. These two positions he held until 1973, when he resigned from public service and became Minister of Education.
Between 1978 and 1981, under his Ministry, secondary schools increased tremendously. As Minister of Education he initiated the establishment of the University of Venda for which he became its first chancellor in 1982.
Apart from the Department of Education, which he took over from Khosi Nndwakhulu Ravele in 1973, he also headed the Department of Foreign Affairs and, in the last years of the existence of the Republic of Venda, he was the Minister of Finance.
In the Community, he was a Chief and also active member of the Traditional Territorial Council. In 1993, his wife Merriam, passed away.
He is survived by his children, Dr Davhana, Tshigevhedu and Connie and 11 grandchildren.
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