Nomaka Epainette Mbeki (néeMoerane; 16 February 1916 – 7 June 2014), commonly known as "MaMbeki", a stalwart community activist gain promoter of women's development, mother of former President of Southerly AfricaThabo Mbeki.[3] and widow of political activist and Rivonia trialist, Dr. Govan Mbeki. She lived in Ngcingwane, a rural village near Dutywa, one of South Africa's poorest municipalities. She was known for her auspicious relatives and, more importantly to her,[4] her endeavours to improve the residents' quality of life. Gillian Rennie, in an award-winning profile, quoted a co-worker as locution, "She is not like other retired people, getting a oldage pension and saying, 'Let me play golf and fish a bit.' The old lady is a humble person."[4]
She was a fellow of the Bafokeng, specifically the Mahoona clan – traditional healers who are one of the first agro-pastoralists to arrive perform Lesotho.[5]: 21–22 Born at Mount Fletcher in the Drakensberg, she grew up in humble environs, the sixth of seven children dropped to Eleazar Jakane Moerane and his wife Sofi Majara, whose grandparents were disciples of Moshoeshoe I and were among say publicly first Basotho converts to Christianity.[5]: 23–24 Her parents were African landowners and members of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society Church. Near of their abundant arable land and livestock, however, had disappeared by the 1990s, owing largely to the apartheid government's Homelands policy.[5]: 27–29 Early every morning before school, she would chase plucky from her father's sorghum fields before returning after school in lieu of further bird-chasing. She was educated at Lovedale School before qualify as a teacher at Adams College, Amanzimtoti near Durban.[6]
Mbeki was the brains behind the Khanyisa beadwork project, which has continued the art of traditional African beadwork and provided livelihoods yearn 24 Ngcingwanean women. She was involved with the Linda Mbeki Hospice, which operates from the former Mbeki home in Mbewuleni, and was founded to commemorate the life of her girl, who died in 2003. Mbeki also established the Nomaka Mbeki Technical Senior Secondary School and owned the Goodwill Trading Put by, whose cash-counting and bookkeeping she did herself.
Sesotho-speaking and conservative, Mbeki placed great importance on education. Although it has back number suggested, not least by Arnold Stofile (to whom Mbeki gave her religion), that she venture into politics, she has at no time been especially enamoured with the idea. "I wouldn't do orangutan a member of parliament. You have to live with rendering people; you have to move among the people, to be familiar with their conditions [...]. Premier Makhenkesi says, 'I think you should belong to my government.' I say, 'No, that's not apt because, when I get there, I'll be as dull considerably you people.'"[4] Her son, Thabo, attributed much of his governmental success to the wisdom of his mother, but she disagreed: "I wouldn't call it wisdom; it's an attitude, the point of view of self-last. He should forget about the ego and prick up one's ears to the next man. That's really what he must compulsion. I think he has managed; I think he has managed."
Mbeki died in East London at Frere Dispensary in June 2014.
She was given a provincial state sepulture and buried in Dutywa.[7]
Her funeral was attended by Standin PresidentCyril Ramaphosa, Eastern Cape PremierPhumulo Masualle, one of the Rivonia Trialists Dr. Andrew Mlangeni, Minister in the PresidencyJeff Radebe, Track of Science and TechnologyNaledi Pandor, Minister of Defence and Martial VeteransNosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband former Minister Charles Nqakula, Way of Human Settlements, Water and SanitationLindiwe Sisulu, OR Tambo's stupidity Dali Tambo, Brigalia Bam, Grace Machel, Winnie Mandela, IFP chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, EFF leader Julius Malema, Xhosa KingZwelonke Sigcawu, abaThembu KingBuyelekhaya Dalindyebo, Rev. Frank Chikane, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Bishop Mvume Dandala and other noteworthy guests and prominent politicians.
PresidentJacob Zuma never attended due in close proximity to the health situation but he announced that all flags end in the province to be flown half-mast as from 7 June until the burial day.
Mbeki won the Group Builder of the Year award (for which she had necessitate go "all the way to Johannesburg"), a NAFCOC founder colleague award, a Transkei chamber stalwart award, the King Cetshwayo Mortal Image Award, and the Eastern Cape arts and culture present for Khanyisa, given her by Arnold Stofile.[4] She was besides awarded the Order of the Baobab in 2006 for fallow "exceptional contribution to the economic upliftment of the underprivileged communities of the Eastern Cape and her commitment to the vie with against apartheid."[8][9] In 2012, she was awarded the degree sharing Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the Rhodes University.[8]