20 January 2012

South Africa – Netball South Africa (NSA) was deeply moved by the news of the passing on of the Late Suzan Monama who was President of Limpopo Netball and Sekhukhune Netball Region. In her speech at Ms Monama’s funeral, the President of NSA, Ms Mimi Mthethwa, expressed their deep sense of loss in losing such a dedicated, principled, sincere and selfless leader.

Ms Mthethwa first of all highlighted the role that Ms Monama played in ensuring that Sekhukhune region affiliates had become one of the recognized NSA regions. She also commended her frankness in stating issues of importance in the growth of netball and hailed her as one of the leaders you could always count on; “Ms Monama has left a legacy that must be upheld by all who strive for the betterment of this code and the recognition of the strength women have in fighting for what they believe in.”

Ms Mthethwa also highlighted the important role she played as the Netball Coordinator at the recent SA Games held in Polokwane. Netball was commended by the competition organisers as the best organised code where there were no hassles experienced in delivering a memorable netball competition; this proves to all Ms Monama’s capabilities as a leader who was able to work with everybody.

It is very sad that she passed on when a lot was in the pipeline for Sekhukhune Netball Region, as one of NSA’s new regions to receive the necessary support to get players on course for national representation.

Ms Mthethwa thanked the Monama family for allowing their daughter to be part of netball and also supporting her passion in netball. She gave encouraging words to her only son who should find comfort in the knowledge that his mother did all in her power to serve ordinary people through netball.

Blanche De La Guerre, Vice President of NSA, who attended Ms Monama’s memorial service on the 12th January, said that ‘Suzie’ would be dearly missed and attributed to her the words of Charles Lindenbergh; “Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”