Gentle, kind, intelligent, strict and unifying were the words used to describe late radio broadcaster Thabiso Enid Sikwane at her memorial and funeral service at the 3C Ministries in Irene, Centurion. She was meant to host her 50th birthday celebration when she was met by her untimely death.

UNITING

Friends and colleagues spoke fondly of the kind and intelligent Thabiso. Radio and TV host, Thami Ngubeni, a close friend and colleague, said Thabiso brought people together. "Life was family, food and Thabiso was the centre of it all. She had a way of bringing everyone together," Thami said. Actress Kgomotso Christopher said, Thabiso was her cousin and a close friend. "It's hard to pay tribute to a formidable woman whose life impacted us in just five minutes. Impossible,' she said. "She was the eldest in the Matladi gang and she took her role as the eldest in the group very seriously, she was our boss lady and the mini parent. She wanted to be intentional and strict in the rules she instilled, but she herself was a child. She had wisdom beyond her years," said Kgomotso.

A MOTHER'S LOVE

Thabiso's mom, Elizabeth Matlou Matladi, told mourners that she didn't know that she had such a great daughter. "Seeing and hearing about her, I thank God. She nourished so many lives. I didn't know about most of the things she did. I called her Thabi-Thabi," Matladi said. Growing up, she said her daughter was a born leader as the firstborn. "She grew up like any other child, but there were other outstanding characteristics. She was a leader amongst other children in the community and her peers from an early age and this she carried until she became an adult and public figure," the mother added. Although much was reported about Thabiso and her failed marriage, her mom said she ignored negative reports. There was a time when she felt bad about the things people were saying about her and Thabiso consoled her. "She said to me that whatever you do, people will always talk. If you do good things or bad things- they will always talk."

A GIFT

DJ Fresh's parents, Salome and Raphael Sikwane, honoured their ex-daughter-in-law, calling her a gift to the Sikwane family. "The Sikwane family did not marry an ordinary woman. There were many women that DJ Fresh could selected from but he didn't," Raphael Sikwane said. He added that the first day he heard her speak on the radio, he knew that Thabiso was not just an ordinary woman; she was a resource whose level of intelligence was not normal. "Her intelligence was high and she contributed immensely to my knowledge and mind power. She used to pass information to me on how the mind works. I am an author as well." DJ Fresh's mom praised Thabiso in a Setswana poem. A private cremation ceremony will be held at a later date.