Moloantoa and Seleke Present Inspiring Catholic Memoirs to First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe-Ramaphosa

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · February 4, 2026

Cecilia Moloantoa, Miranda Seleke and First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe-Ramaphosa

Miranda Seleke, First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe-Ramaphosa and Cecilia Moloantoa

By Daluxolo Moloantoa- First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe-Ramaphosa welcomed her cousin, Mrs Cecilia Moloantoa, and fellow Catholic Dr Miranda Seleke at her Hyde Park, Johannesburg home, where they presented copies of their inspirational books to her.

Mrs Moloantoa’s book, From Here We Shall Never Move: The Story of Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Mission, chronicles her life and the history of one of South Africa’s oldest Black Catholic parishes, while Dr Seleke shared her own reflections on faith and service in From Lerole to Legacy – Dr Miranda Seleke: A North-West Soul, A South African Journey.

Mrs Cecilia Moloantoa, a native of Mmakau Village, north-west of Pretoria, is a retired nurse who served as Director of Health at the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) and as Africa regional envoy to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Health.

Dr Miranda Seleke presented her memoirs titled From Lerole to Legacy – Dr Miranda Seleke: A North-West Soul, A South African Journey, which recounts her upbringing in a faith-filled household, her journey through education and public service, and her devotion to fostering spiritual and social growth within her community.

She blends personal memoir with historical insight, highlighting her childhood in the devout Seleke family, whose patriarch almost became a priest, her years of service as a doctor in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and her lifelong devotion as a parishioner of the Church of the Beatitudes in Pretoria.

The book was written to inspire young Catholics to serve God and country with integrity, devotion, and courage.

In From Here We Shall Never Move, Mrs Cecilia Moloantoa traces the remarkable story of the Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Mission in Mmakau, founded in 1921 by villagers determined to establish a church within their own community.

Among the mission’s founders were Mr E Motsepe and Mr A Tseleng, forebears of Mrs Moloantoa and Dr Motsepe, whose vision and dedication helped shape the parish’s early years. With the guidance of Belgian Oblate priest Fr Camillus De Hovre, the villagers built a stone church that quickly became a centre for worship, education, and social life. Over the decades, the mission expanded into more than sixty outstations, creating a network of churches across Gauteng and the North-West province border lines.

Its historical and spiritual significance has been marked by visits from notable figures, including future Pope Paul VI and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, cementing the church’s legacy as both a place of faith and a cornerstone of Catholic history.

A Family of Faith: From Anglican Roots to Catholic Mission

The Motsepe family traces its origins to Mmakau Village and has a long history of faith and service. The five children of Alfred Butana Chaane (ABC) Motsepe and Kay Motsepe attended St Joseph School in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, as boarders. Originally Anglican, some of the children, including businessman Dr Patrice Motsepe, converted to Catholicism during their years at boarding school.

Dr Patrice Motsepe and his family were long-time parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Rivonia, Johannesburg, and more recently at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rosebank. He has generously supported Catholic schools and parish initiatives throughout Gauteng, including annual contributions to Catholic education.

First Lady’s Words of Appreciation

During the intimate visit, First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe Ramaphosa expressed her gratitude, noting the personal and spiritual significance of the occasion. “I am deeply honoured to receive these books from my cousin, Mrs Cecilia Moloantoa, and from Dr Miranda Seleke. Your stories of faith, service, and dedication will inspire young Catholics and all South Africans to serve with love and commitment,” she said.