Friends, family, and colleagues of Pesa Pheko gathered at PACOFS to celebrate the life of this iconic figure. The second memorial service was held on Wednesday, March 12, and was primarily attended by members of the arts community.
The Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS) went above and beyond to honor Pesa through the medium he was passionate about: art. The institution excelled in providing a fitting tribute—one that will remain in the hearts of those who loved him and appreciated his talent and contributions. Attendees gathered at PACOFS to pay tribute to the legend.
The cast of the Thaba Bosiu musical, in which Pesa was a participant, performed to honor him as a beloved Mosotho. Speakers described Pesa as loving, humble, and personable. He was known as someone who would never harm another and always strived to help others succeed and thrive.
His former art teacher, Mr. Mogotloane, recounted how Pesa’s love for the arts blossomed at a young age while he was in Primary School.
Pesa was so passionate that he auditioned for the musical Sarafina, where he was cast in the role of a guitarist, making his school proud.
“Since he was young, we were unsure whether to let him audition because he was still in school. After he landed a role in Sarafina, they wanted him to travel with the cast, but we faced a dilemma due to his age. After discussing it with PACOFS officials, they encouraged us to allow him to pursue this opportunity, believing he would represent us well, which he indeed did,” Mogotloane stated.
He added that the school rented a bus filled with children to watch Pesa perform in Sarafina, and they were all filled with pride.
Archie Phinithi from Banna Buang called for men’s issues to be taken as seriously as women’s. He emphasized that cases involving men should receive the same urgency from authorities as those concerning women. Thoko Nogabe from Basadi Buang praised Pesa’s elder brother, Khausu, for his efforts to locate his brother, sharing fond memories of Pesa with the audience.
Award-winning performer and content creator June Mpholo delivered a moving solo performance that brought tears to the eyes of many audience members. Mpholo’s performance was captivating and profoundly emotional. The cast of Thaba Bosiu also performed a scene from the hit musical in tribute to Pesa. Those whom Pesa mentored, from puppetry to acting, dance, and theatre, showcased their talents during the memorial service.
In his speech, Pesa’s brother Khausu expressed his determination to find his brother, stating he was prepared to search everywhere, including government mortuaries.
He cursed the day Pesa’s wife was introduced to the family and the day she was born, expressing that he never imagined she would be associated with the loss of his brother. He also thanked everyone for their support during this difficult time.
PACOFS CEO Mr. Dlamini announced that Studio 2 at PACOFS will be named in honor of Pesa.
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