Update

KNYSNA NEWS - There was a series of celebrations to pay homage to Peggy Dlephu who meant so many things to so many people leading up to her funeral which was on Saturday 18 May. Dlephu, owner of Peggy Arts and Tours and an overall humanitarian, passed away from a short illness earlier this month.

Her colleagues in the tour guide industry hosted a unique and intimate service on Wednesday 15 May at the Knysna Information Centre with some members of Dlephu's family – the room was open to all to share their memories with Peggy and all of them echoed the sentiment that she had a beautiful heart.

Born in Zambia
There was also a memorial service at Khayalethu hall organised by the local community on Thursday 16 May.

Some of the things that many don't know about Dlephu is that she arrived in Knysna in 1999 with her Zimbabwean husband who passed away in 2003. She was the second born out of nine children and her highest level of education was matric obtained in Zambia where she was born, and is survived by her 69-year-old mother, seven siblings, her daughter Angel and nephews and nieces.

It was her hard work, zeal for life, her big heart, the voice that echoed Africa and her warmth that opened doors for her and were rivalled only by all her passions: whether it was the township tours, the soup kitchen, Siphuncedo preschool, the people she cooked for at the clinic or various stations were people lined up hoping to get hired, or even the random children on the streets she gave goodie bags – the memorial services highlighted that Dlephu has left a legacy and touched so many lives.

'Her qualities were inborn'
Dlephu's uncle Green Mutenguna said she wasn't just a pillar of strength in the Knysna community but theirs as a family as well. "I wish we as a family could take credit for her heart to serve and go out of her way to help those in need but we can't, this was inborn – it came naturally and she did it with all her heart and you could see it on her face. She has represented us as a family and Zambia as a whole very well. We are saddened by her departure."

The uncle said they as a family will ensure that her legacy will live on and will do everything in their power to ensure that all her life's work has not been in vain.

At the funeral an emotional Angel was meant to make a tribute to her mother but couldn't bring herself to as she broke down. A family friend then read her moving tribute, a part of which read, "They say blood is thicker than water but that couldn't be further from the truth as our relationship had nothing to do with blood. You took care of me from when I was two years old. I couldn't have asked for a better mother."

Read a previous article: Farewell to a true community hero

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