With the recent passing of Miss Matlhaodi Rahab Kgomo, an important era in the history of Bloemfontein came to an end. In addition to being one of the last of her generation to have witnessed the visit of the British Royals to Bloemfontein in 1947, which in her case was sealed with a gift of a cup and saucer, Rahab Kgomo was one of the pioneers who contributed to the establishment and further development of a distinct tennis tradition within the black communities of the Free State in general and Greater Bloemfontein/Mangaung in particular. Another tennis legend from Kgomo’s era was the late Gobuiwang Junia [‘Zero’] Tlhobelo who passed away 10 years ago.

In 2018 Batho, Bloemfontein’s oldest existing historically-black township or so-called ‘location’, celebrates its centenary. Compared to other South African townships of similar size and age, Batho is no ordinary township because of its rich and colourful history. During the past 100 years much had happened there, most notably on a socio-political level. For example, consider the fact that the well-known founder-member and first speaker of the South African Native National Congress (later ANC), Thomas Mapikela, lived in Batho until his death in 1945.