Kgosi ya dipere’s final ride!
Dignitaries, family and friends have gathered at Plot Studios in Carlswald, Midrand, on Thursday, 4 September, for the funeral of renowned equestrian pioneer Enos Mosotho Mafokate, affectionately known as Kgosi ya Dipere — The King of Horses.
Mafokate was born on 15 February 1944 in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg, and passed away on Thursday, 3 September 2026.
His life was marked by determination and a passion for horses that began when he was still a young boy.
According to his obituary, around 1954, young Enos would ride the family donkey and later experienced the thrill of riding a pony after swapping a white boy riding one.
As a teenager, he walked a long distance to the yard of respected showjumping instructor Lesley Taylor, where he found work as a groom.
His love for horses eventually saw him break racial barriers in the equestrian world.
