An elephant in the room

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An elephant represent a number of things such as grace, prosperity, power, loyalty and wisdom.  In many families there is likely to be a person that possesses these qualities, a person that hold all the power even though he or she did not demand for it, a person with wisdom that we all run to when we need guidance.  Like many other families, in my family there was that distinct person and that individual was my father.

My Father whom many called Ufafa Olude (Elegant man) was a man that possessed almost all the qualities mentioned above, his courage, strength and determination made him establish the first black high school in Knysna (Percy Mdala High School).  The high school was later named after him in honour of his work, indeed the naming honoured a man that spent most of his life trying to solve other peoples problems, an individual that was determined to share his good fortune with the less fortunate.

Yes, like many other human beings, he too had his faults but what I admired about him the most was his ability to rise above the odds and pick up where he left off.  His good nature and commitment still resonates in the hearts of the people of Knysna, he is remembered for his strength even though his heart seized to beat twenty eight years ago