Kaizer Chiefs have read with concern and disappointment an article in Sunday’s edition of Isolezwe ngeSonto, 9 July 2017, titled Baphoxwe wuMotaung ngokaBhiza, written by Malibongwe Mdletshe wherein he quotes the late Michael ‘Bizzah’ Dlamini’s son, Paris, who seemingly indicated that he was “disappointed with the absence of Mr Kaizer Motaung at the late legend’s funeral.”
Amakhosi’s Chairman Kaizer Motaung tendered an apology for his absence and conveyed a message of support and condolences to the bereaved families and friends through Kaizer Chiefs media platforms. His personal condolence message was also read to the congregation at the funeral service by the club’s Corporate Communications Manager, Vina Maphosa.
If Isolezwe gave Kaizer Chiefs a right to respond, the article would have been a more balanced reflection of the situation. This is a basic journalistic principle.
It is important to note that the Chairman kept very close contact with Bizzah’s family during the period of illness of the Chiefs legend, who Motaung regards as a dear friend. During this difficult time, Motaung instructed Supporters Relations Manager, Cecil Motaung, and Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung, to keep abreast of the situation. On a number of occasions Chiefs delegations also visited the ailing Bizzah to offer support to him and his family before he regrettable passed away.
Furthermore, as per Chiefs protocol, Norman Mkhize and the KwaZulu-Natal supporters played a pivotal and supporting role during Bizzah’s difficult time in and out of hospital. Mkhize even supported the family with sustenance provisions.
Upon hearing the news that Bizzah is no more, Motaung didn't hesitate to deploy Cecil Motaung and Football Manager, Bobby Motaung, to pay homage to the Dlamini family. The delegation carried a mandate to engage the family on areas where Chiefs could make a contribution in order to give the late legend a dignified send-off.
In the discussions Chiefs requested, for logistics purposes, that only a funeral service be held. The family, however, insisted on holding a memorial service on Thursday, 6 July – only later on, we learned that another memorial service would be held on in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, 7 July.
Meanwhile, Chairman Motaung was mourning the loss of his cousin who was buried on Thursday, 6 July, in Soweto.
As per protocol, a Chiefs funeral committee met to deliberate on appropriate assistance for the funeral plans for Bizzah. A decision was taken to contribute to the full funeral parlour services, which was coordinated and processed in full by Amakhosi.
In addition a delegation was deployed to attend the funeral on Saturday, 8 July 2017. The delegation included club officials and legends, who played with Bizzah during the founding years of the Glamour Boys in the 1970s. The supporters branches were also organised to form a strong Chiefs presence at the funeral.
It is unfortunate that with so much effort put into a decent send off for Bizzah, the journalist and Paris chose to flag the “absence” of the Chairman, while disregarding the supportive leadership role that Motaung played during these difficult times.
Kaizer Chiefs would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported Bizzah during his ill health, in particularly Norman Mkhize and KZN Supporters Branches, for their continued support to the Amakhosi legend, both as friends to Bizzah and as true representatives of Kaizer Chiefs.