Mlangeni remembered for his integrity, honour

GAUTENG Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi used the funeral of ANC stalwart Andrew Mlangeni to slam acts of corruption and fraud in the provincial government.

He was speaking ahead of his party deciding the future of Health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku today.

The ANC Gauteng special executive committee meeting today follows the appearance of Masuku and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko, since accusations of fraud and corruption surfaced against them.

The Education MEC is the ANC deputy chairperson in Gauteng – and was part of the executive that summoned Masuku and Diko to appear before them and state their case over allegations of having illegally awarded a tender worth R125 million for the supply of personal protective equipment to Diko’s husband – amaBhaca King Thandisizwe Diko – through his company Royal Bhaca Projects.

At the heart of Lesufi’s poignant address at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus yesterday, he told the mourners that the rampant acts of corruption had undermined the political sacrifices made by Mlangeni, who was incarcerated for 26 years on Robben Island.

Upon his release, Lesufi said, Mlangeni dedicated his entire life to the fight against corruption in government, only to be disappointed by his own comrades.

“We stand here as the Gauteng government to declare that what we used to cherish has left us. What we used to celebrate is no more,” Lesufi said.

Making reference to Mlangeni, he said: “A leader among us has left this world. His heart has ceased to beat, thus leaving our hearts in pain. The pain is deep and unmeasurable.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country was celebrating the extraordinary life of a hero.

“In the many profound tributes that have been delivered over the past week, the overriding sentiment has been that his passing marks the end of an era. It was an era of tireless Struggle, of sacrifice and service, of honour and integrity.

“It was an era of leaders who embodied the best in humanity,” Ramaphosa said.

He said just as Mlangeni dedicated his life to ending the corruption of the human soul that apartheid typified, he also spoke out against the avarice that threatened to erode South Africa’s hard-won democracy.

Mlangeni was buried at the Roodepoort Cemetery next to his wife, June.