Song and dance in memory of Sis Dolly
September 24, 2004 Edition 1
Patrick Hlahla
Legendary singer Dolly Rathebe has been remembered the way she lived - with music and dance.
The life and times of Rathebe (76) were relived at a memorial service at the Mabopane Indoor Sports Centre on Wednesday.
Music was provided by two well-known Pretoria artists, Oleseng and Solly Moholo, who defied doctors' orders so that they could be part of the proceedings.
They said they had decided to perform for "Sis Dolly" because she had done so much for the community in Mabopane and surrounding areas.
The memorial service was attended by, among others, North West Premier Edna Molewa; the MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Nikiwe Num; the executive mayor of the Madibeng Local Municipality, Raymond Motsepe; former radio personality Dan Setshedi; Tshwane Metropolitan Council's mayoral committee members Shadrack Dlamini and Theo Tlholo; as well as Jacqui Mofokeng, a member of the Gauteng legislature.
Rathebe, who died at George Mukhari Hospital in Ga-Rankuwa on September 16 after suffering a stroke, was described as a warm, hard-working person who was always involved in community projects.
She is credited with the establishment of the kwaDolly Community Centre near Klipgat, which caters for abused, abandoned and orphaned children.
Rathebe rose to fame at the age of 19 when she starred in the 1949 film, Jim Comes to Joburg.
Other than her life as a singer in Sophiatown, Rathebe pursued an acting career and featured in movies.
She also toured the country and the continent with groups such as the Manhattan Stars and the Harlem Swingsters.
Rathebe became an international star when she began singing with the Afro-jazz group, the Elite Swingsters, in 1964.
Mofokeng said Rathebe's memory should live on. "I challenge the North West government to erect a memorial to Sis Dolly. She has done a lot, both as a musician and as a community leader."
Motingwa Molamu, the secretary of the Ikageng Women's Club, said Rathebe was involved in numerous community projects.
Rathebe will be buried on Sunday at the Roodepoort cemetery.
