The hall in Randburg, Gauteng was full, more than two hundred people came to praise God for the life of DKT Zandile Praxedis (MPRA) MaNkabinde Magadla (67) two weeks ago. It was a rare and special service as the deceased ended up abroad and was cremated. He was sick for about four months.
The family and his friends from Africa and New Jersey, America, organized a good job to say goodbye to the hero of education and helping people. The speeches told that no one had ever been close to Mpra who was not influenced by diligence, success and persistence until what he wished for happened.
Usually all he wanted was to show humanity in certain moments of life and to be a stick for those who needed it. She thanked her husband for letting her be what she was created to be: to serve the work and be of unlimited help to others.
She is a young woman from Dlebe born to a mother who was a teacher (MaNgcobo) and a father who did different jobs in the community.
Speaking at the memorial service held in Randburg, Professor Nxumalo said: “Dr. Mpra, who was invited as a Professor in certain programs at universities, found inspiration when he was growing up on the Dlebe mountain and the Dumbukane river. He smelled the scents of agave, simbati and fig. This is the place where the King Shark attacked until there were surnames that say:
Mjokwana’s Fire
The Fire of Terror
Ushis’ izikhova zaseDlebe
And Mabedlana also burned.
Let him be interested in education and achieving what has been started, and working for a change in what is being done, infect others with that passion, and listen to what has been heard in the schools he attends.
Dr Nkabinde was trained in Thwasana, Sacred Heart Oakford Priory and Mariannhill. He suddenly returned with degrees from the University of Zululand, Harvard University and the University of Utah.
From these universities he returned with the following titles: SSTD, B.Paed, B.Ed, M.Ed and Phd.
He blossomed into a star in Dlebe, KZN and the South holding the following positions:
External Examiner, University of Zululand, South Africa (2018–present)
External Examiner, University of Toronto (2016)
Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship (Fellow), 2016
Board of Trustees Member, Jersey City Community Charter School (2015–present)
National Chair/Co-Coordinator, International Association of Special Education (2015– )
Membership Committee Chair, Division of International Special Education Services (DISES) (2006–2009)
Program Director, Fulbright-Hays Advanced Intensive Group Abroad for Zulu in South Africa (June 20 – August 7, 2005).
He became a Tenured Professor at New Jersey City University.
He also held positions at Farmington Maine and Central Michigan University in MT Pleasant Michigan, USA.
He even became the President of the International Association of Special Education (IASE) in 2016.
Dr. Mpra Nkabinde has written a lot proving that a Professor should be productive in his field. We can count the last ten books, some in collaboration with others. We have also listed a number of research documents (articles) over the past thirty years that we have seen.
He focused on the education of those with certain challenges such as autism, assistive technology and multiculturalism.
He even helped the University of Kabianga in Kenya to have a building for studying and housing mentally challenged children. He asked for donations until his dream came true. His name is not mentioned in Kenya.
Some of the books he wrote have these titles: An Analysis of Educational Challenges in the New South Africa which was published in 1997.
Enye ithi Promoting Science Literacy for Students with Disabilities Scholarship.
Three of the many articles he wrote:
*Multiculturalism in Special Education
*Information and Computer Technology for Individuals with autism
* A tale of Two Worlds: A South African born educator’s journey in the American Academy
* Educating children with Physical Disabilities
* In Pursuit of Equality in American Education: A Reality or Myth?
He had a group of girlfriends he called gold, friends he had contacted over the years on social media. They said that he didn’t just live and pass this world, but he enriched it, and he burned the shame of love and humanity.
Professor Nxumalo challenged Mpra’s friends to help schools with students who are unable to read and write humanities to do better as soon as possible. He said that next year during the commemoration of MPRA, there should be reports of dedication to do something good for students and teachers.
She is survived by her Engineer husband, Humphrey Zukisani Magadla, her children, Siba Patrick Arthur Magadla, Samora Mpumeleli Magadla, (Nate Rhodes) and grandchildren, Basin and Bennett.
SLEEP WITH MPRA
Professor OEHM Nxumalo (his teacher in Ngoye).