‘Our freedom is his legacy’, says Ramaphosa of Andrew Mlangeni

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Andrew Mlangeni, saying the country had lost not only a great patriot, but a strident moral voice.

Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at Mlangeni’s funeral service at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Soweto Campus on Wednesday, 29 July 2020.

Mlangeni died on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 at age 95, after being admitted to 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria.

“In the many profound tributes that have been delivered in the past week by a number of people both here and abroad, the overriding sentiment has been that his passing marks the end of an era”, Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said Mlangeni belonged to an era of tireless struggle, of sacrifice and service, of honour and integrity.

“It was an era of leaders who embodied the best of humanity… He was given the gift of time that his fellow Rivonia Trialists were not”, he added.

The president said the veteran served his movement and his country loyally for over seven decades and reiterated the struggle veteran’s commitment to the African National Congress (ANC).

“The black, green & gold colours of the African National Congress flowed through the veins of our departed leader. He served his movement and his country loyally over seven decades”, he said.

Panyaza Lesufi: ‘Mlangeni was a fearless leader’

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has said Mlangeni was an outstanding leader of the country’s struggle for liberation and democracy, adding that Mlangeni was despised by the apartheid regime but adored by millions of freedom-loving South Africans

“It would be disingenuous to state that the freedom you (Mlangeni) fought for, may lose its character if we can’t act. The struggle you waged may turn to be something else if we don’t self-correct. That the sacrifices you made, if nothing drastic is done, may be fruitless,” Lesufi said.

He spoke on behalf of Premier David Makhura who could not attend as he is still recovering from COVID-19.

“The mistrust between the leadership and our people is growing daily. Never in our history [have] greediness and corruption preoccupied the mind of our people. In your honour, we need to let go of all these wrong things,” he added.