It was with great sadness that the staff of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) learned of the sudden and unexpected death of our receptionist and long-time FABI team member Martha Thandi Mahlangu on 26 June. Martha was an integral part of the FABI team since joining the Institute on 15 January 2004. She is survived by her daughter Hazel (29) and son Thabiso (19).

Martha will be remembered by FABIans for her friendly smile and sense of humour - always laughing and enjoying a good joke. But she was also passionate about people in need and was always ready to help others.  FABI Director Prof. Mike Wingfield expressed his condolences with Martha’s family saying that she was a very special person who served us loyally for many years and who had a great love and passion for all of the FABI team. Always prepared to help and to do that extra bit to make our lives easier. We will miss her smiling face and unique sense of humour greatly.