The soccer match will be held the day before he is laid to rest. Molelekoa lost his life in a car accident which occurred in the early hours of 21 January 2023 in his hometown, Botshabelo. 

In a media statement from SAFA, his memorial service was held at Lenyora la Thuto Secondary School in Botshabelo on 2 February 2023 and the funeral service will be at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium on Sunday 5 February 2023.  

The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has also conveyed his condolences, “It is with profound sadness that I've learned of the passing-on of Molelekoa. He was an outstanding international Assistant Referee who had been invited to the upcoming Total Energies U20 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2023. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire South African Football Family.”

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Motlatsi Molelekoa, the cousin of the deceased, said the family is saddened by Molelekoa’s passing. “Moeketsi was a very vibrant person, full of life, energetic, always smiling, and very humble. We are really going to miss him. It is a big loss to the family, and to the football fraternity.”

Molelekoa was previously part of the SAB and ABC Motsepe Leagues, and later the Premier Soccer League in 2014. Molelekoa was part of the officiating team in the previous DStv Premiership Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in October 2022. The provincial department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has extended its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Molelekoa. The department described him as an outstanding PSL match assistant referee, who remained a shining example of the talent the province possesses across all levels of sport participation, management, coaching and so on.

The PSL has also sent their condolences to the Molelekoa family, the South African Football Association, and the football fraternity at large. The PSL observed a moment of silence in Molelekoa’s honour ahead of the past weekend’s DStv Premiership, DStv Diski Challenge, and Motsepe Foundation Championship fixtures. 

Motseki Godfrey Leine, known as Ba2cada, a SABC radio presenter – also from Botshabelo – expressed his sadness on his Facebook page. “Farewell Max Molelekoa, was an honour to know you.” 

Leine explained that Molelekoa has not missed even a year since the establishment of Ba2cada Soccer Tournament in 2008. “When we started Ba2cada Tournament in 2008, you were just a young kid with dreams  – 17 years of age and the youngest of them all. Since then, till last year when we celebrated 14 years of the games, you were still there as a referee without even missing a year. I literally saw you grow as an [amateur] till you reached professional level.”

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