Don Mattera, mentor, insightful poet and Pan African intellectual 1935 -2022
By Edward Tsumele
Many of us who have worked with and our career paths intersected with mentor and compassionate man Don Mattera, have a Bra Don story to tell. And what is common in each Bra Don story is that it has always been a positive story even though in his life time he travelled a complex journey.
For example, not only was he a one-time feared gang leader of the 1950s Sophiatown in his youth, but he remarkably underwent a personal transformation that saw him play several roles in life that transformed the lives of many.
All of which were positive roles after leaving gangsterism to become a freedom fighter, motivational speaker, poet, journalist and mentor to many of us in the media.
I first met Bra Don in my youth when I worked at Sowetan, where he was associate editor at the time, and from what I understood having been brought in by the late legendary editor Aggrey Klaaste. Besides being a mentor to many of us at Sowetan, his other role was to contribute to the Nation Building project, a passion and creation of Klaaste through engaging with the youth around Westbury, the neighbourhood of Sowetan in Industria.
Some of the youth there were caught up in the web of crime, especially gangsterism. Being a former gang leader himself, who had transformed his life to become a formidable freedom fighter, insightful poet and Pan Africanist intellectual, Bra Don became an inspiration to many in society. He changed the lives of many from the life of crime to become responsible citizens, and many such youth will attest to that today.
Like many others in the media, I personally benefitted from his mentorship, words of encouragement whenever he thought my writing was great, but also admonishment whenever he felt I was being sloppy. I continued to benefit from Bra Don’s wisdom, warmth, compassion and wise counsel till his death his till his death.
Bra Don was genuinely interested in the lives of those younger than him. A multi-linguist, I remember the last time when we met at the unveiling of a tribute mural honouring him alongside others, including Sylvia Glasser, the late David Koloane, John Kani and the Miriam Makeba in Maboneng, in September last year, how when he saw me he ignored the high powered European Union Delegation and broke into a XiTsonga song he seemed to have composed on the spot.
The European Delegation were the sponsors of the mural, which was managed by the Arts and Culture Trust which roped in young creatives from the Market Theatre. We both laughed as the delegation was left unsure what was going on. We both understood what was going on as we had not seen each other for a while due to of course Covid-19 restrictions as well as his failing health, preventing him from social set ups. Though he was wheel chair bound, Bra Don was in high spirits. At 86 at the time he did not make an issue of his advanced age.
As per Moslem religious rites, Bra Don was buried at Westpark Cemetery on Monday, July 18, 2022.