Orlando Pirates Mourn the Loss of Matriarch Nani Chakane

Orlando Pirates are mourning the loss of one of the club’s most cherished matriarchs, following the passing of Mrs. Maleshoane Elizabeth “Nani” Chakane on 23 June 2026.

Mrs. Chakane, the beloved wife of long‑serving club figure Mr. Franklin Chakane, was a familiar and respected presence around the Orlando Pirates family. Her passing has cast a sombre shadow over a club that prides itself on its deep roots in the community and the families that have carried it through generations.

In a message of condolence, the club expressed its profound sadness and extended heartfelt sympathy to Mr. Chakane, the wider Chakane family, relatives, friends, and all whose lives were touched by her warmth and spirit during her lifetime. The sense of loss stretches beyond one household; it is felt across Soweto’s football heartland and within the broader South African football fraternity.

Funeral Arrangements

The funeral service will take place on Thursday, 2 July 2026, at the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa in Orlando East, Soweto, starting at 09:00. After the service, the funeral procession is scheduled to leave at approximately 11:00 for the burial at Nasrec Cemetery.

Mourners are being received at the family home at 1173 Jacobs Street, Protea North, Soweto, where friends, supporters, and members of the football community have been gathering to pay their respects and offer comfort.

Orlando Pirates have called on supporters and the wider football community to keep the Chakane family in their thoughts and prayers during this period of deep mourning, as one of the club’s cornerstone families navigates an irreplaceable loss.