Kgosana completed lifetime mission
The stalwart will be remembered for advocating for rights of black people
PAC STALWART Philip Ata Kgosana was described as a man who fought for the rights of black people and hailed as an advocate for democracy, during a memorial service in his honour. The event started on a high note with PAC members singing revolutionary songs.
The City of Tshwane Chambers’ auditorium was packed with mostly PAC members and military veterans. Kgosana died on April 19 at the age of 80 after a short illness.
At Wednesday’s memorial Council Speaker Katlego Mathebe said Kgosana had fought for the return of land his entire life. “He knew the importance of land, he lived his life with the party’s slogan that Africa is for Africans, Africans for humanity and humanity for God,” she said.
Mathebe described Kgosana as a man with a passion for serving the interests of the black people and who worked hard in ensuring that segregation and oppression had no room in South Africa.
In 1960 Kgosana led more than 30 000 anti-pass laws protesters from Langa in a march to the then Caledon Street police station. He devoted his entire life to the liberation Struggle. Kgosana’s eldest son, Motlhabani, said the family was at peace with his father’s passing because he had completed his mission.
“My father often said one of the reasons he loved Jesus Christ was not because of anything wonderful he had necessarily done. He said anyone that said something, stuck to what they said and, when confronted with death, continued with what they said, deserved respect,” he said.
“Papa grew up in a poor family. He was the son of a dignified country preacher... And yet despite that, his intelligence took him to the University of Cape Town. But because he was black, he had to stay at Ilanga township.”
After the 1960 march, police arrested Kgosana on the same day. He fled South Africa while on bail and later resumed his studies in Ethiopia.
“When my father returned from exile and still found Winterveld with no lights or running water, he was dismayed and pushed for the people of Winterveld to have water and electricity,” Motlhabani said.
On March 30, 2016, Kgosana walked the 12km from Langa to Cape Town at the head of a small procession, which criticised the ANC government for not doing enough to take care of South Africa’s poorest.
President Zuma has declared a special provincial official funeral for the freedom fighter and former Tshwane metropolitan municipality councillor. Kgosana’s funeral service will take place at the Pretoria Show Grounds today. – ANA