When death strikes any family, or any institution for that matter, it defies all man-made expectations, plans and rules, but raises the power of its creator, and its sole custodian; the Almighty Himself.

It is that power that we often condemn as cruel when it claims those who we have grown to love and to share moments of happiness, grief and sorrow. The question I ask is; Who are we to challenge the power of the creator when such power claims what it is rightfully its possession or creation?

We gathered in this fashion because it is that power that has willed this sombre moment in the lives of Dr. Khoza and his wife, his family, friends, colleagues and all at Orlando Pirates. The Creator has claimed a shining star once known in our business of football and throughout our country and abroad as - Zodwa Zo Khoza.

You will notice that I deliberately refuse to hyphenate her name as “Zo-the Daughter of Ivirn Khoza” because Zodwa carved and successfully sculptured her own identity as she diligently and professionally executed her duties for Orlando Pirates and football in our country.

Contrary to the belief that she gained automatic favour from her father into the business of football, Zodwa essentially created the job for herself and earned the respect of those she worked and associated with. Upon entering the world of soccer, she asserted her presence by immediately evicting her father from his office to allow him an opportunity to pursue other matters of national interest. In his absence she became multi-tasked and never missed an opportunity to learn and eventually blossomed into a competitive official both on and off the field. At this instance, it had become obvious that the Iron Lady whose element of youth, fun and adventure introduced a new direction in marketing and promoting the business of Orlando Pirates and our football, had replaced the Iron Duke.

Behind her diminutive stature, rested a powerhouse of ideas, and a sharpness of business acumen that yielded growth and development that often rivalled those that she competed with in football. In her unique manner, she literally took her responsibilities by the scruff of her neck as she catapulted the Orlando Pirates brand and marketed such into unprecedented heights of professionalism. Her feisty businesslike attitude and a passion to bring both excitement and value to competitions like the Vodacom Challenge and many others also provided Zodwa a platform to display her leadership and visionary business potential. Throughout the Vodacom competition, she would gain and lose friends but eventually succeed in delivering a notable event that would excite any football administrator and supporter alike. Her uncompromising approach often demonstrated the harsh realities of any business when conducted with the urgency and the deliberate focus needed to succeed.

For us at Chiefs and given the history of competition and rivalry between the two institutions, the Iron Lady consolidated her stature in avenues at which we shared common business interests. Whilst we enjoyed the partnerships in other matters, Zodwa never compromised the known rivalry between Chiefs and Pirates. In one of her most recent emphatic outbursts in the corridors of our Soccer City, Zodwa declared that she never wears anything gold and match that with black because that would dilute the passionate professional hatred she harbours against Chiefs. For many of us this may sound vile and very malicious but the essence of such a statement is that it is such passion that has kept our football exciting for over many years. The prevalent tension, the glamour and the packed stadiums at our derby are thus typical consequence of such rivalry and a necessary fuel to ignite the excitement in the world of soccer.

I therefore personally received the news of her departure with shock and for a moment, I felt such devastation and sadness for our institution of football. As a colleague, she leaves an infallible void just when our football needed more samples of her innovative resourcefulness in developing both the Orlando Pirates and South African football brands alike.

Admittedly, death is an eventuality and a least-acceptable reality when it strikes, but it unfortunately raises unchallengeable concerns when it claims such young talent and energy at an early stage. I must however emphasize that the challenge yet remains for us to pick up the pieces and soldier on with the work of those that it has claimed. Let those that will raise the fallen flag remember that Zodwa never aspired to fail but to succeed in the often awkward and traditionally patriarchal arena of football. Indeed she succeeded and may her contribution remain embedded in our minds as we lay her to rest. Whilst we mourn, let us celebrate her work and ensure that she never laboured in vain but she did all she could to make every Orlando Pirates encounter a memorable one.

Let me also take this moment to commend the manner in which Dr. Khoza and his wife received and reacted to the departure of their beloved daughter. I cannot fathom the paternal instinct of enduring the devastations of losing a blood daughter, but I must marvel at the brevity of Dr. Khoza for publicly sharing and disclosing the suspected causes of Zodwa’s departure. Upon hearing the sad news, I struggled as a parent to fit into his shoes by sharing in his grief, but I immediately found comfort after realizing that he had accepted God’s will over his family and personal life.

His actions thus display true leadership and a painful yet necessary effort that raises the effects of such unfortunate circumstances in our lives. Very few parents and families are brave to even openly discuss the subject on HIV/AIDS given the stigma attached to it. This fear often results in ignorance that only becomes painful when families and relatives have to handle its deadly presence in their lives.

Dr. Khoza’s openness therefore challenges us to immediately look into the dangers of pretending that our society is faced with the realities of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The truth is that the effects such a pandemic has in our lives calls for a more strategic and carefully executed plan of action to help those affected and infected.

Looking into our football institutions, we are challenged as both players and administrators to regard our human resources as employees that deserve professional assistance on matters that impact on their personal development.

I feel particularly challenged to strengthen our internal HIV/AIDS Wellness Programme so that we constantly educate and play a proactive role in addressing the challenges around the spread of this deadly illness. It is necessary to place mechanisms that can help identify the status of wellness of our icons so that we can immediately intervene by recommending appropriate programmes and help.

As for the loss of Zodwa, it is just befitting to express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving family, relatives and friends. Her departure is not only a loss to you, but also a great setback to the world of our football in the country. She takes with her a powerful feminine role of women in soccer as we move towards eradicating the often detrimental and patriarchal assumption that football is only a sport for men.

May God strengthen all at Orlando Pirates as He extends His abundant love to sooth the minds of those that are grieving. May He shower all with His unfailing grace and wipe the tears of those in mourning with His tender hands that heal and massage broken hearts. May He hear the prayers of those that seek solace and the comfort of peace in His presence.

May Zodwa find peace and may we remember her as a soldier that carried the flag of Orlando Pirates and football with brevity and a commitment to making our entity a worthy cause of entertainment and enjoyment. May we also remember her as a woman of substance and destiny in the business football.

I thank you.

Kaizer Motaung (Mr)


Chairman, Managing Director - Kaizer Chiefs