ANC must fight to dispel images of graft – Makhura
GAUTENG Premier David Makhura says the ANC-led government has a duty to govern properly and to fight to dispel perceptions that African liberation movements are inherently corrupt.
“When we make mistakes as the ANC in government, we let so many Africans down. We let many people down when we do not govern correctly. Power must not run into our heads,” Makhura said at the provincial funeral of PAC stalwart, Philip Kgosana, in Pretoria yesterday.
Kgosana died on April 19, at the age of 80.
“When we allow state capture, we are sending the message that liberation movements are inherently corrupt and cannot govern once they are in power,” Makhura said.
Government needed to do more to honour Struggle heroes like Kgosana. He said government had made the mistake of not paying attention to honouring South African heroes and heroines.
He said Kgosana had never wavered in his beliefs and commitment for the liberation of the African continent.
“We would like to say thanks to the Kgosana family for sharing Ntate Kgosana with us. We need to do more to honour the galaxy of leadership from dif ferent organisations who sacrificed their youth for freedom. Ntate Kgosana’s beliefs and political thought were shaped by Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe,” Makhura said.
“Kgosana was a selfless leader who dedicated his life to the service of humanity and to the cause of Africa. We have a lot to learn from Ntate Kgosana’s leadership. We must continue the fight to ensure that land is returned to the people of our country especially Africans. We must never forget, freedom was not free.”
Kgosana led more than 30 000 anti-pass laws protesters from Langa, Cape Town, in a march to the apartheid parliament in the 1960s.
He devoted his entire life to the liberation Struggle and served in various leadership roles in the PAC while studying at the University of Cape Town.
Thousands of mourners attended Kgosana’s funeral service at the Tshwane Events Centre, including for mer president Kgalema Motlanthe. – ANA