Family and friends gathered at Life Church in Somerset West on Friday, September 5, to pay their last respects to Nomonde Scott who passed away after a short illness on August 24 at the age of 64.

Ms Scott made history in 1983 by becoming the first black prosecutor in the Western Cape. However, her life took a turn when she was convicted of drug-trafficking and served time in prison. While a parolee she registered for her LLB degree and graduated in 2008 and later registered for an LLM degree in environmental law.

She published a book titled Look Before You Leap, an autobiography intended to discourage others from getting involved in crime.

At the time of her passing she was the Western Cape coordinator for the Safer South Africa Foundation, where she worked closely with school pupils in an effort to strengthen the community’s ability to fight crime, and improve partnerships with police, correctional services and agencies responsible for road traffic safety.

Ms Scott, who lived in Gordon’s Bay, was a disciplined person around pupils, yet full of love. She was never shy to speak about her past when she motivated pupils. In her last event on August 7 at Bulumko High School in Khayelitsha, where 200 pupils obtained certificates for completing the Safer South Africa Foundation programme for crime prevention, she had made sure that all pupils were in full graduation regalia, an effort that brought tears to some of the pupils.

She then asked the parents who attended the event: “Do you see how beautiful your children are?”

She said: “I don't want these children to make the mistakes that I did. I was the first black prosecutor in the Western Cape during Apartheid, but I broke the law and I was sent to prison. My son was an infant then and I had to take him with me, and I was released when he was five years old,” said Ms Scott.

She told the parents that despite her breaking the law, she chose to dedicate her life to try and prevent children from committing crime.

At all events where they awarded pupils with certificates, she always made sure that a pupil attended with a parent or guardian, as she wanted parents to take pride in their children. She always reminded parents to love their children, as she usually made an example of her love for her daughter, a pilot, and her son, a lawyer.

Her daughter Ntumeko Scott described her mother as her friend, confidante and adviser. “We did not know love but you taught us love, you loved us unconditionally, you taught us how to value humanity,” said Ms Scott.

Son Lubelo Scott said he received a call from his mother informing him that she was not feeling well so he took her to her regular doctor who sent her to hospital, where she passed away.

“Mama, life has not been kind to you, life has been extremely cruel to you. But today I want to say that as your last born, I set you free now. You fought a good fight. The love that you have given my sister and I, friends and family, is the love that I don't think I will ever receive again.”

Safer South Africa CEO Riah Phiyega, who is the former national police commissioner, said the death of Nomonde Scott was a loss for the foundation.

She said when they launched their programme in the Western Cape, they were blessed to have someone of Ms Scott’s calibre spearheading the birth of their programmes in the province.

“I say so because she was a person full of energy, filled with passion”, added Ms Phiyega.

Pall-bearers carry the coffin of Nomonde Scott who was laid to rest on Friday in Somerset West. PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE

Ntumeko Scott paying tribute to her mother Nomonde Scott during the funeral service at Life Church in Somerset West: PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE

Sergeant Xolelwa Nyalambisa from Lingelethu West police station, said losing Ms Scott was a shock.

She said Ms Scott became an icon in a strange way, as she was once imprisoned but came out as a changed person who helped the police and community to fight crime. She said Ms Scott had an impact on pupils who she taught about the law and the consequences of committing crime.

Sergeant Nyalambisa said it would be impossible to find a person who could fill the shoes of Ms Scott. She said she hopes the Safer South Africa Foundation will be able to find someone who is as passionate as Mama Scott was.

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Family and friends pay tribute to Nomonde Scott