By Bianca Mlilo
Former Cold Storage Company (CSC) deputy general manager in charge of operations Thole Madonko has died. He was 65.
His daughter, Nombulelo told Business Chronicle that her father, who was diabetic, had been unwell for some time. She said he was found dead in his bedroom by their maid yesterday morning.
“Our maid went into his room to give him some tea and discovered that he wasn’t responding before calling me. I then called an ambulance. Upon arrival the ambulance crew pronounced him dead,” said Nombulelo.
The late Madonko was born in Bulawayo on July 18, 1951 and was the second born in a family of six.
He did his primary education at Mzinyathini Primary School in Matabeleland South before attending Cyrene High School in the same province for his secondary education.
After his secondary education, he left the country for his tertiary education at Leipzig University in Germany.
Upon finishing his tertiary studies, he came back home and got his first job at Agritex. He then moved to CSC where he worked as deputy general manager (operations) in the 1980s before quitting to pursue personal business interests in 1993.
He once served as acting general manager at the country’s largest meat processor and marketer.
His cousin Ntombizami Ndlovu said they learnt of their uncle’s death with shock and described him as the family’s pillar of strength.
She said her uncle was an avid gardener and a well-read intellectual who loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.
“He was a generous man who never complained and there was never a single moment when he was under the weather even during the loss of his eyesight,” she said.
“We’re shattered because we never thought this would happen, seeing that his eye operation had been successfully done. We were looking forward to seeing him walking around the yard pulling his hosepipe.”
He is survived by Nombulelo and son Vulindlela.
Mourners are gathered at 136 Colne Road, Matsheumhlophe. The Chronicle