Daniel Ramoroesi
Daniel Ramoroesi | |
|---|---|
 Dan Ramoroesi speaking at jubilee of the Bahá’í Faith in Swaziland, 2004. | |
| Born | October 2, 1936 Phokeng, Rustenburg, South Africa |
| NSA member | South Africa 2001 - ???? |
| ABM | Africa 1971 - 1985 |
| Counsellor | Africa 1985 - 2000 |
Daniel Matute Sello Ramoroesi (b. October 2, 1936) is a South African Bahá’í who served as a Continental Counsellor for Africa.
Biography[edit]
Ramoroesi was born in the village Phokeng in the Rustenburg in the North West Province of South Africa into a Lutheran family in 1936. In his youth he attended Bafokeng High School in the village and was successful in his studies and was also considered the schools best footballer.[1]
Ramoroesi was baptized and confirmed as a Lutheran in 1953 but had an open mind in regards to religion and in 1955 he was invited to a Bahá’í meeting by Ephens Senne. He began studying the Bahá’í Faith and met with Bahiyyih Winckler, William and Marguerite Sears, and John and Audrey Robarts before declaring on July 9, 1955. He became an active member of the community and in 1959 he founded a football and basketball club he named the Bafokeng Rangers and used travel in relation to the club as opportunities to teach the Faith. He was later elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly and appointed to the Area Teaching Committee of Phokeng.[2]
The local police in Phokeng became suspicious of Ramoroesi suspecting him of being involved in political activity and he decided to leave Phokeng after his room was raided and searched as while no illegal material was found he felt the harassment was likely to continue. He moved to Johannesberg in 1962 and then settled in Diepkloof during the year. He worked with the Local Spiritual Assembly of Diepkloof and was appointed to the National Goals Committee of South Africa in the 1960's.[2] In his professional career he began working for the florist company Rolf Flowers in 1962 staying with the company until 1972.[3]
In 1964 Ramoroesi married Judith Modisakeng and she declared in 1968 and they moved to Soweto that year.[4] In his professional career he established a burial society and a creche in Soweto serving as chairman and trustee of the creche which was known as the Early Learning Day Care Centre.[3] In 1972 he began working for the Barlow Rand Computer Service and developing his skills with company training programs and completing a Diploma in Personnel Management in 1988.[3]
In 1971 Ramoroesi met Hand of the Cause Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir at the South African National Bahá’í Centre in and Muhájir recommended he be appointed as an Auxiliary Board member and he was appointed a few weeks later. He served as a Board member for Propagation for ten years and for Protection for four years before being appointed as a Continental Counsellor in 1985. As Counsellor Ramoroesi was responsible for overseeing the Protection and Propagation of the Faith in southern Africa succeeding William Masehla who had passed away in 1983.[4]
Ramoroesi was appointed for additional terms as Counsellor in 1990 and 1995 and he retired from his professional career in the 1990's to devote more time to serving the Faith.[3] He was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa in 2001 having completed his service as a Counsellor,[4] and as of 2003 he was employed part time by the South African Bahá’í Distribution Service at the countries National Bahá’í Centre.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa (2003) , compiled by Edith Johnson and Lowell Johnson, p 304
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa (2003) , compiled by Edith Johnson and Lowell Johnson, p 305
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa (2003) , compiled by Edith Johnson and Lowell Johnson, p 307
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa (2003) , compiled by Edith Johnson and Lowell Johnson, p 306
