Almost three years after his death, Mbhashe Local Municipality has immortalised the late businessman and philanthropist, Mthetheleli Ngumbela, by naming the stretch of the N2 running through the town of Idutywa as Mthetheleli Ngumbela Drive.
Mthetheleli Ngumbela Drive was officially unveiled on March 22, at an event graced by Eastern Cape premier, Oscar Mabuyane, and Amathole District Municipality executive mayor, Anele Ntsangani.
The local municipality said that the naming of the road was in honour of its long-standing relationship with the late advocate, Mthetheleli Ngumbela, as he played an important role in providing support to the municipality when it was established.
Baw’uNdlovu, as he was affectionately known, died aged 81 in a car accident some 10 kilometres from Dutywa while driving back from his farm in Healdtown, in October 2021.
Mbhashe Local Municipality said one of the late Ngumbela’s notable legacies was promoting rural sport development within the municipality, with flagship programmes being the Annual Ngumbela Horse Race, and the National Ngumbela Cricket Festival that takes place each year at Ngumbela Park Cricket Grounds.
“Later in the years, the Ngumbela family’s financial support extended to faith-based organisations with the purpose of promoting moral regeneration, among others.”
“The Ngumbela family’s businesses in Dutywa have continued to provide much-needed work opportunities to an appreciative number of locals. Mbhashe municipality has acknowledged and appreciated his immense contribution in alleviating poverty in our communities, and restoring individual integrity,” read a statement issued by Mbhashe Local Municipality.
Speaking at the official unveiling of Mthetheleli Ngmbela Drive, Eastern Cape premier, Oscar Mabuyane, spoke of the immense role the late Mthetheleli Ngumbela played as a businessman and community servant, whilst revealing plans to bestow more honours upon him.
“Naming this road after Mr Ngumbela serves to inspire future generations. They must know his life’s work and strive to emulate him. There must also be an annual lecture dedicated to Mthetheleli Ngumbela, to assist in keeping his name alive,” Mabuyane said.
“At the time the town of Dutywa was under financial distress; it was Mr Ngumbela who took it upon himself to assist the town with financial aid. This honour is befitting. Mr Ngumbela loved this town and its larger communities,” added Mbhashe Local Municipality executive mayor, Samkelo Janda.
Janda said that the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), as a custodian of national roads, was consulted and gave the nod to renaming this stretch of the N2 to Mthetheleli Ngumbela Drive.
