Reverend Maboe and his late son, Hendrick ‘Billy’ Ramthodi Maboe

LIKE BISHOP TUTU

Reverend Joseph Maboe loves this photograph of Billy. He recalls: ‘He was so handsome and cheerful. When I visited, he always said “Papa you have come” and would laugh and hug me.’

Hendrick ‘Billy’ Ramthodi Maboe had been diagnosed with epilepsy 20 years earlier and had stayed at the Life Esidimeni facility in Randfontein, where he received good treatment. Billy was proud that his father was a priest. ‘He was always saying to me, “Papa you must behave very well; you must be like Bishop Tutu”.’ Joseph smiles.

In May 2016, Joseph went to visit Billy at Life Esidimeni. When he arrived, he saw two trucks at the gate and patients being taken away led by nurses. ‘They were like ghosts or sheep going to an auction. Some were crying. Others were running helter-skelter.’

Joseph asked what was happening and someone said that they are going away. Billy was still there. Joseph took him food and he was very happy. But when Joseph went back at the beginning of June, Billy was gone. The place was under renovation and the security guard couldn’t tell him where Billy was.

A month and a half later, Joseph tracked Billy down to Bophelong Suurman in Hammanskraal, nearly two hours away from where he lives. Joseph was shocked when he saw his son. Billy was shivering. He was so hungry that he licked the chips packet Joseph had brought him. Joseph wanted to take Billy to a hospital straight away, but the NGO said that he had to wait for the doctor’s permission. Billy died six days later.

‘Thank God I found him and could bury him in a decent way. But the pain is still there.’