VIRGINIA – The Virginia community, together with relatives and friends, mourns the passing of Pontsho Josephine Hlohlolo, affectionately known as “Puni”, who died following a brief hospitalisation last week.

Born on 6 February 1947 at Mmamahabane in Ventersburg, Hlohlolo was the daughter of Kutu Mohoje and Mmadijeng Mohoje. She was born a twin, but her sister passed away in hospital shortly after birth.

Puni began her primary education at the Mmamahabane Bantu Community School before continuing her schooling at the Harmony Mine School in Virginia.

She later attended the now-defunct Tshiya College of Education in Qwaqwa, where she obtained her junior certificate.

In 1968, she married Moiketsi “City” Hlohlolo. Their marriage endured for 58 years, standing as a testament to commitment, companionship and the sacred promise to remain together through life’s joys and challenges.

Together, Puni and Moiketsi built a family and a life grounded in love, dignity and perseverance. They raised their children with values that continue to live on through the generations.

Reflecting on the loss of his beloved wife, Moiketsi said: “Se sa feleng sea hlola,” which loosely translates to “what has no ending is a miracle” or “nothing lasts forever”.

Puni spent many years working in the retail industry in Virginia, serving a community closely connected to the mining industry.

During the vibrant mining era of the 1970s and 1980s, she played her part in helping miners look and feel their best.

Her work was about more than selling clothing.

Through her dedication, warmth and attention to her customers, she helped restore a sense of pride, confidence and dignity to the hardworking men who formed the backbone of the Goldfields economy.

Her working life later took her to Harmony Gold Mine’s No. 4 Shaft, where she worked as a cook.

In the demanding environment of the Goldfields, her contribution went beyond preparing meals.

She helped nourish a workforce whose labour sustained families and communities, while her warmth and dedication helped create a sense of home and community in the workplace.

Puni’s life was one of service, family and perseverance.

Her story is intertwined with the history of Virginia and its mining communities, and her contribution will be remembered by those whose lives she touched.

She leaves behind her husband, Moiketsi; children Mpho, Tseko, Sephiri, Theko and Mamerae (Ntswaki); 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Her passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter, but the values she embodied – love, dedication, resilience and family – will continue through the generations she leaves behind.

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