Scores of dignitaries gathered at Misty Mount in Libode to pay tribute to Dr Soyisile Nuku, the acting head of department of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, at the time of his passing.
Nuku passed away on January 2024, after a short illness.
He was not an acting HOD only, but was also a reverend at Stone Zion Church of Southern Africa.
Among the dignitaries who paid their respects were the deputy minister for Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, premier of the Eastern Cape, Lubabalo Mabuyane, and MECs for different departments from the Eastern Cape.
He joined the Department of Education as an educator and moved up the ranks to the position of deputy director general (DDG) until his retirement in July 2021.
Mabuyane said that maybe if he had not appealed to Nuku to go back to serve as the acting HOD of this department, maybe he would be still alive.
He confirmed that Nuku was already a retiree when he saw the need for him to go back and serve as an acting HOD.
“When I received the news of his passing, I asked myself many questions; he was very close to me. We have to pay respect to this diamond. He was not someone who was easily excited by the position,” said Mabuyane.
He described Nuku as someone who was very dedicated, who always had respect for someone else.
The deputy minister for Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, said that his children described him as their role model who led his family to church.
She said that it is the responsibility of the father to lead his family to God.
“He did not serve the province only, but also the entire South Africa. We are stressed because for the first time he managed to put the province of the Eastern Cape on the map. We saw the matric results of 2023 and we are praying that his departure must not lead this province to go back again to poor results. Someone must take the baton.”
His younger brother, Pilato Nuku, said that they were still shocked about his passing.
“He was someone who liked development and who always made sure that he loved his family. He was very supportive and was always able to solve problems when there was a need to do so,” said Pilato.
