08/04/2021
REVERED SESOTHO AUTHOR KPD MAPHALLA PASSES AWAY
5 APRIL 2021
The Dr KPD Maphalla Family Trust, and by extension, the Maphalla clan, wishes to
confirm that revered Sesotho Author Dr. Kgotso Pieter David (KPD) Maphalla has
passed away, aged 66, after prolonged illness.
The Free State born Maphalla, a prolific author of Sesotho literature who has written
in excess of 70 books in a career that spans over 40 years, passed away on the
afternoon of 5 April, 2021 at the Hoogland Medi-Clinic in Bethlehem, surrounded by
close family.
Maphalla will be remembered far and wide, for his unwavering passion for the written
word and Sesotho language. His works have over the years, has been used in schools
and Universities across the country and has won several awards over the years. To
name a few, the plethora of awards and accolades include the M’net Award, the
Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature, the Chairperson's Award by the South
African Literacy Awards, including being honoured by the South African Centre for
Digital Resources, during the year 2019, which had been declared the International
Year of Indigenous Languages by the UNESCO.
Dr. Maphalla was conferred an honorary doctorate degree in Literature by the
University of the Free State (UFS) in a momentous ceremony in 2007. He was a
member of Lesiba Writers and later came to form the Metjodi Writers, an association
of Sesotho writers. He was influential in the formation of QwaQwa Radio – a
community radio station based in his hometown of Qwaqwa. He has, throughout his
selfless life, contributed towards the development of the Eastern Free State town,
through his literary and philanthropic work.
His writings were, by his own admission, influenced by great Sesotho authors like KE
Ntsane, Pudumo Mohapeloa, JJ Moiloa, Mofolo Mofolo, and others.
He has written, to mention but a few novels; Kabelwamanong, Tshiu Tseo, Tshepo le
Metswalle, and poetry books; Kgapha Tsaka.