Update
KNYSNA NEWS - A week-and-a-half after the shocking news rocked Greater Knysna that community pillar Peggy Dlephu had passed on after a kidney failure on 3 May, it has still not sunk in for many.
Dlephu was never one to dwell much on her past or her personal life, preferring instead to enthuse about her quest to serve the community.
Originally from Zambia, Dlephu engraved her initials on Knysna's DNA by being involved in various development programmes, such as a soup kitchen in Concordia that feeds over 80 children twice a week, helping out at Siphuncedo Kindergarten, spontaneously showing up at the Knysna community clinic with soup for the people or at stations where people looking for jobs wait in hopes to be picked for a job, to name but a few.
Celebrated entrepreneur
The owner of Peggy's Art and Tours' success saw her scooping the George Business Chamber's 2015 entrepreneur of the year award.
The 46-year-old Dlephu led a career marked by great feats and challenges that most would not be able to overcome and she leaves behind an impressive track record that has placed her on the list of Knysna's legends.
Konga Molingila, who worked with Dlephu for two years but has known her for many more, said, "She had nothing but great vibrations and whoever left her presence felt her warmth and love. She called everyone 'my sister' and 'my brother' and when she wronged you, she knew how to apologise – that is a rare quality."
Her fondest memory of Dlephu is "how excited she used to get when we went shopping for the soup kitchen she has in the township".
'Always there for me'
Dlephu's only child, 19-year-old Angel, said she couldn't have asked for a better mother. "She was always there for me especially when I needed her the most. She was full of surprises and a wealth of wisdom, every day I learnt something from her."
She said she will always remember her mother especially on birthdays, which were always packed with words of encouragement.
Given a chance to say goodbye to her mother, Angel said, "I would say thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm grateful for all your help and support. I know you are in a greater and peaceful place. You will always be in our lives."
Messages of support from locals and people from abroad have been pouring on Dlephu's Facebook page. There are prayer meetings every evening until the burial at Pastor Solomons' church as it is known in White Location, and Dlephu's friends have been visiting her home reminiscing on the time they spent with her.
There is a post on Dlephu's Facebook page asking for contributions towards the funeral. It is however unclear why the account on the said post is a personal account.
The funeral will be held at the Knysna Anglican Church on Saturday 18 May from 09:30.
Read a previous article here: Peggy Dlephu mourned by many
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