| Ramokone Moloto | Castro Pilusa | France Mohlala | Peter Mokaba | Martha Motswenyane | Florence Masakona | Rufus Maruma |
RUFUS MARUMA'S OBITUARY
Passing on of a giant that is Rufus Maruma
In loving memory by Eva Pebetse Ratau
10 March 2008
My tribute to a remarkable man, Rufus Maruma. The news about the passing on of my role model hit me so hard that I am still hoping that I am just dreaming. But the reality is that he is gone.
Rufus Maruma, my Mkhaya as he would call me was a humble and selfless giant.Its this humanity and humility I got to admire and respect. For him the issue was not about me, myself and I. It was about how happy people around him are that I got to admire and respect. Its this selfless and sense of sharing that I will always carry with and will treasure for as long as I live.
As a friend I remember how every time I would moan, complain and self criticize and he would call me to order. In his God given way he had a skill of making everyone around him feel so grounded.
Around Maruma there was always an aura and plethora of happiness. A great sense of belonging.
I live through my daily resentments but around Maruma I accepted my imperfections and was glad I was alive.
He developed a healthy principle of living in the present, not in yesterday. In reality. The pride that life is not only about me but about the people around me.
For his friends and family he never compromised going the extra mile. I for one has learned the key in not being selfish in sharing what I have with others.
Maruma helped me perfect the art of knowing thyself something that is not easy. He had no inhibitions that kept him and people like us from reaching our full potential when around him.
He relaxed and had an ability to survive misfortune and bounce back, with the elasticity of a rubber band.
Mkhaya, Rufus Maruma rest in peace and your memory and your legacy will live on.
Within the ANC structures he was respected as appraised by Ministers and his counterparts alike.