Fund for Children of Palesa Mofokeng

My name is Kamala and I have been friends with Palesa’s adoptive mom, Kendall - aka Mme Makie for over 35 years. We met when I was in undergrad and she was my drama professor. Since then, we kept in touch, and Kendall was even the photographer for my wedding in 2015. When Palesa passed away, Kendall reached out to me and a few other friends asking us to brainstorm a way to help support the two children and sister her daughter had left behind. One member of the group suggested a fundraiser. Stricken with grief and not in a position to implement the plan herself, we all took responsibility for specific tasks - I agreed to head up the fundraising effort. To that end, I have opened a beneficiary/donation account for Relebohile, Palesa’s sister, who will raise the children, at Wells Fargo. Funds will be transferred on a monthly basis from the account to her bank in South Africa, as she has indicated it’s far too risky and dangerous for her to receive a large amount of money in a lump sum. Funds raised will be used for Katleho’s (15) school tuition and expenses, Kamohelo’s (1) daycare costs so that Lebo can continue to work, monthly food costs, and household expenses. Additionally, should Lebo find herself with unexpected expenses for the children, they will be transferred to her as she requests. While I will oversee the funds transfers initially, I am in search of another entity that can provide this service for the long term, as the need for transfers is expected to last more than 10 years. Thankfully, it seems we will raise enough to provide care for that extended amount of time and beyond! Please read below a story of Palesa, written by Mme Makie. Thank you all who have given!

Palesa’s way in the world was loud, generous, and punctuated with laughter. Her energy, voice, rage, and stories were all big. When she was hospitalized with typhoid as a child, she was given a doll and a woolen pashmina for comfort and warmth. She left every child in the pediatric ward with a rag she ripped from the pashmina and some piece of that doll (a foot, a leg, an eye, a hank of hair). She shared whatever she had: that’s who she was.

​She was born in Lesotho in 1984 and met her adoptive mom, Kendall (Mme Makie) when she was 7. They lived in Lesotho, Pietermaritzburg, New Orleans, and Houston. They loved each other fiercely, but Palesa had an older, deeper bond with her biological sister, Relebohile (Lebo) who had remained with their biological mother.

​When Palesa was away from Lebo, she dreamed of her; she heard Lebo calling; she fainted for no medical reason; she was hospitalized for puzzling illnesses. She was homesick for her sister. Home for Palesa was where Lebo was, and when she was 18, Palesa returned to South Africa.

​Mme Makie bought them a shack to live in, and continued to support her in any way she needed. Palesa used money she received to continue her education. When Palesa began working at a home for the elderly, Lebo got a job as a security guard at the same place. They trained together as traditional healers. Palesa’s daughter Kamohelo is one year old; Lebo’s daughter is 10 months. Palesa also has a son, Katleho, 15.

​Palesa was struggling with an illness that affected her lungs when the food riots began on July 10, 2021. People, jobless and desperate, fed up with government corruption, began taking what they needed from grocery stores and warehouses. Fury grew; I frustration, the people set buildings on fire.

​Palesa texted Mme Makie on July 12, “yooo south africa is going mad, but don’t worry, I am safe I am scared about food and medication.”

​July 13: “Mom South Africa is going down with hunger and no jobs for a lot of people because they burned the supermarket what are we going to do about food and medication?” Frantically, Mme Makie texted back. No answer.

​On July 16 Palesa sent her last text: “Water yes, no medication bcs the clinics are closed no food.”

​Lebo texted Mme Makie on July 18, “Hey Makie, Palesa passed away today it’s Relebohile.”

​Palesa may have died of Covid. The clinic she attended called it a “lung infection.” She was unable to access food and medication for a week, and though she struggled mightily to survive in order to protect her children, she lost.

​Lebo will make a home for Palesa’s two children with her child. For that, she needs help. We are raising money to set up a Trust to make it possible for Lebo to finish educating Katleho and to care for Palesa’s baby and her own. [The Trust will be administered by a reliable fiduciary in the USA who will maintain transparency and accountability for all funds].