Picture: The late ANC veterans, Meshack Monageng and Sammy Lebelo/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West said it is devastated after two veteran civic and alliance leaders, Sammy Lebelo and Meshack Monageng died in hospital on Sunday.
The SANCO provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe said Monageng and Lebelo succumbed to illness, while admitted respectively at the Medi-Cross Medical Centre and Life Peglerae Hospitals in Rustenburg.
“We are deeply saddened by the demise of the two pillars that had devoted their lives to our struggle for liberation and community upliftment.
“Both of them have left indelible marks as public servants and community builders that had walked in the footsteps of our global icon, Nelson Mandela,” he said.
Sebegoe further said they convey condolences to the Lebelo and Monageng families. He added that, although both Lebelo and Monageng had been ill for quite some time, nothing could have prepared them for this terrible twin blow.
“The death has robbed the communities across the North West of the most advanced cadres, who were not only selfless but dedicated, highly disciplined as well as loyal compatriots, who had laid a solid foundation for political, trade union, and civic activism in Tlhabane, Rustenburg Zone and the Bojanala region.
“In life, the two were inseparable and shared a strong bond of friendship that was underpinned by their Christian values. They had tirelessly worked for the unity of the revolutionary alliance. Lebelo and Monageng both cherished the vision of nation-building, non-racialism, non-sexism, reconciliation, and social cohesion that was espoused by Madiba, Oliver Tambo, and the founding fathers of our liberation struggle,” said Sebegoe.
He said a fitting farewell for the two veterans will be a decisive victory for the ANC in the Rustenburg ward 11 bi-elections to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sebegoe said Lebelo had served as the first Chairperson of the ANC Tlhabane Branch, SACCAWU Shop steward, ANC Regional Executive Committee Member, Regional Treasurer, SANCO Provincial Treasurer, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance in the previous term of council and was currently a Proportional Representation Councillor in the Rustenburg municipality.
“Monageng was former SADTU Regional Secretary in Bojanala, SANCO as well as ANC member. He was since 2010 employed as Director Basic Services in the North West Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs,” he said.
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