A Life of Service: Remembering Nombulelo Mabel September (1925–2026)
Each one of us - her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family - have been shaped by her example. The way we love and care for each other, the way we laugh through challenging times
Nombulelo Mabel September (née Williams) devoted her entire life to nursing - not as a career, but as a calling.
Affectionately known as “Granny” in Adam, Ballenden, Masupa and across the entire Orlando East community of Soweto, she was more than a caregiver. Whether in hospitals or in the neighbourhood, she treated every patient and neighbour with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Her faith guided her service. She believed deeply that “we are our brother’s keeper,” and she lived that truth daily. Granny never sought recognition, but instead taught those around her the meaning of serving without complaint.
For many, she was the first person to turn to in an emergency, when a clinic or hospital felt too far away. She never dismissed anyone, regardless of their circumstances.
One moment stands out: in 2008, when asked to sit with a neighbour’s body, my mom, at home where she had passed - while the family sought help at the mortuary, Granny did not hesitate.
She simply sat quietly in the room, calm, steady, and present. No words, no complaints, just a profound act of companionship. That was Granny: her presence alone was a form of Christ-like service.
Her life challenges us to reflect on the kind of community we want to build. In an age where selfishness and materialism often dominate, Granny showed another way.
She was a builder of community, a woman who respected her neighbours, cared for strangers, and placed family and community above herself.
She believed that respect begins at home. When we respect our neighbours, we learn to respect each other. When we respect each other, we learn to respect our country. And when we respect our country, we nurture responsible citizens, fight corruption, and raise leaders of integrity.
Granny’s legacy reminds us to honor the elders who stayed, who served, who built with their hands and their prayers when no one was watching. If our children carry forward that lesson, then her 101 years will continue to shape South Africa long after her passing.
Obituary:
Nombulelo Mabel September (née Williams) was born on 23 May 1925, the first child of Roberton Mazolo and Mittah Nomathemba Williams.
She began her schooling in Tuku Village, Eastern Cape, before moving on to Ayliff Secondary School, where she completed her Junior Secondary education. From an early age, September dreamed of becoming a nurse - inspired by the sight of the only nurse in her village, dressed in a crisp white uniform. That vision became her lifelong calling.
She applied for training at Frontier Hospital in Queenstown, where a senior tutor encouraged students to seek opportunities at larger hospitals. On completing her course, September was accepted for further training at Boksburg Benoni Hospital in Ekurhuleni. She was one of only three Black students admitted, a milestone she described as “a dream come true.”
It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Cebisa September. They married, and together raised four children - Nondumiso, Nomonde, Nkosana, and Nombulelo - while she completed her training as a registered nurse.
Her passion for nursing deepened, leading her to pursue midwifery at Edendate Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Even while studying, she made sacrifices, sending her children to live with relatives in the Eastern Cape until she could reunite them with her and her husband in Gauteng.
Her career spanned more than four decades. September worked at Coronation Hospital and several clinics, including George Goch, 18 Hoek Street, Orlando Clinic, Orlando Child Health Clinic, Shanty, and Senaone Clinics. She was also “on call” in her neighborhood, often delivering babies in emergencies.
September retired in 1988, but her devotion to service continued. She worked part-time at an old age home, extending her care to the elderly. In her later years, she dedicated herself to her family, especially her grandchildren.
In May 2025, she celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and the community she had served with unwavering commitment.
Tribute from Her Granddaughter, Khanyi
Khanyi September, one of her grandchildren, shared this reflection:
“I have had the gift and honour of knowing my grandmother, Mabel September, for all my life. She lived to the blessed age of 101 years.
In honouring her and the life she lived, I fear I will do her an injustice — but because she is my grandmother, she deserves to be remembered out loud. She was the matriarch of our family, the foundation we all stood on. She raised her family with a deep, strong sense of love that held us together.
Each one of us - her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family - have been shaped by her example. The way we love and care for each other, the way we laugh through challenging times, all carry her fingerprints.
You shared laughter, tears, sorrows, and experiences. All those stories will forever keep her in our hearts. Thank you, mama, for everything.
Nombulelo Mabel September passed away on 16 June 2026 and was laid to rest on 23 June at the Avalon Cemetery in Soweto.
Lala ngoxolo Hlopheni, Ngwane, Mgabhi, Magijimela.
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