Vol. 1. Life and Times of Godfrey Thebeyame Percily “Mphese” Ramantele 

Percily was born on 13 August 1971 in Kanye to Slyvia Kesegofetse (Kgasa) and Phiri Mothibi Ramantele. He started his studies at the Mafhikana Primary School in 1978, continuing to Seepapitso Senior School between the years of 1985 to 1989. Although unknown to many, he is a twin to his sister, Monica. Monica is a subscriber (well almost) of the South African True Love and Drum Magazines. I read countless of her informative collection. I remember Mphese’s comical fights with his younger brother Ishmael, back in the 80s. Surely, I learned a lesson or two on how to skilfully ‘attack’ my younger brother. Mphese was a Karateka.
Percily was an avid football fan: a staunch supporter of the Kanye Swallows and the neighbouring South Africa’s Moroka Swallows. In addition, he was an articulate critic of the Botswana National Team, the Zebras. The last football matches I watched with him and his cousin, Rantokoshane – in 2008 – was the Soweto Derby, Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates and the Zebras up against Mozambique, at his parent’s home. I have a vivid memory of various football players adorned to his bedroom wall back in the late 80s, particularly, that of Andries ’’Chaka Chaka’’ Mpondo. Although his brother, Ishmael, is not a big fan of football, I remember that in 1996 I watched the AFCON final at Phomolo Bar with him.

Due to his blind-love of Moroka Swallows, I have benefitted, immensely, from a number of posters of the teams he did not support. I vividly remember Isaac ‘Shakes’ Kungoane and Willington Manyathi, although the giant posters were only up our bedroom wall for a couple of hours before Mphese’s uncle, my father, took them all down, to the bemusement of my brother. Most importantly, as we didn’t have a TV at home, the vivid images of the South Africa’s football players helped my imagination, particularly at the beginning of my Primary School as I could confidently join other boys in heated debates about the cherished Ohlssons’s Challenge or the Bob Save Super Bowl. It was perfectly fitting that in January 2008; I gifted Mphese a Glasgow Rangers Home jersey, which I had bought in Glasgow.

Mphese was a very good storyteller. I remember around 1997-99 when I was a student at the Seepapitso Senior School, when he was walking to his work, at the hospital, on the ‘main road’ just in front of home, I would see him from our house and he would point where we would meet. Most of the times I didn’t make it, but when I did, strolling with Mphese to Seepapitso was always filled with juicy stories.

I have a vivid memory of around 96, very early about 3 in the morning. Following the loud nocks, papa opened the main door at home for Percily and our cousin Thato, his nephews. The very articulate Percily, informed my sleepy, interrogating father that they had just come back from ’’dibaesekopo’’. I think nobody opened for them at Mphese’s home! I laughed in my sleep; I was about 15 years old. I knew that one day, when I’m old, myself too, like Percily, would go to the dibaesekopo.

Although at times I am sad that Mphese did not live to witness those who came after him, those he had influenced, to celebrate their success and to tell stories of their success. I am honoured and privileged to have comprehensively known and learned from an excellent critic: Mogolo; Nduna; Motsadi Mphese.