Radio presenter Maritjie Bothma has passed away. After a brief illness, Bothma, also known as Intombi Yomzulu, passed away on Monday. Condolences messages are pouring for Maritjie Bothma, a radio host and television personality.
Announcing her passing, the radio station she worked for, Sauma HD Radio said in a statement: “It is with sadness to announce that one of our radio family presenters, Marietjie Bothma passed on today 29 May 2023. Lala ngoxolo Sisi Marietjie Bothma. Good night.” The station did not explain what happened to Bothma, who was known for being bubbly and being fluent in isiZulu.
One of the former church members who testified of the abuse of human rights at the mission was Bothma, who was raised at the contentious KwaSizabantu Mission in KZN. Bothma said that she was subjected to physical and s.xual abuse at the mission in her testimony before the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities in 2020. She asserted that as a young kid, Ruth Combrink and Elizabeth Vermaak, the daughters of the church founder Erlo Stegen, forced her to “suck on the br€asts”.
“When we would talk about it, they used to punish me by putting pepper water in my mouth. I was only a child and younger than five,” Botha told the Commission.
After her death was reported, tributes quickly began pouring in. Zuza Mbatha, a publicist, penned the following: “Ulale Ngokuthula Marietjie Bothma Intombi emhlophe yomZulu”. According to Nkiyase Mondlana Mbatha
“Rest In Peace my friend, Marietjie Bothma #ripmarietjiebothma”. Lebogang Masonta posted: “What a great woman she was, rest well girl you lived and fulfilled the assignment God gave you.” Writer Loyiso Lindani said, “I’m hearing that the legendary Marietjie Bothma is no more. What a sad day. Yhooo this woman lived. I found her through TikTok and randomly a video of hers appeared on my timeline. In the video, she was sharing how she survived the most life-changing events of her life. I was amazed and I’m so thankful God made it possible for us to meet in person. I’m sad for her daughter and family. What a deeply moving life story, may she fly with the angels.”
