KANYAMAZANE – Ngobeni died on June 21, 2004. He was described by Mandla Msibi as a fearless revolutionary and community leader whose only agenda was the emancipation of all young people.

“Today we remember and honour a true hero of our times. We pay tribute to one of our greatest leaders ever produced by the youth league in this province.

READ: Salons, nail bars back in business

“He served the organisation, young people and the community of Mpumalanga with nothing but integrity. Ngobeni was a true and loyal servant of the people, who at no stage sold out his people and organisation for personal gain,” said Msibi.

The current MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and a member of the provincial executive structure of the ANC, Msibi, served with Ngobeni in the youth league.

On Sunday, Msibi with former youth league leaders, Desmond Moela and Jomo Nyambi, joined the Ngobeni family as they laid wreaths at Mthandazo’s grave in remembrance of his heroic contributions.

ALSO READ: Premier encourages Mpumalanga Province’s youth

“We all know that Mthandazo did not only belong to his family, but he belonged to all of us because he was committed to serving the people. It is befitting, therefore that on this day as we remember Mthandazo, we pause and look at the mirror and ask ourselves, as young people, if we doing enough to preserve the legacy he left behind.
“Let us honour his memory by being true servants of the people and we can start this by taking a stand against gender-based violence and the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic,” said Msibi.

During this platform, the last democratically elected youth league deputy president, Moela called for unity and an end to faction battles within his organisation.

“We need to do away with factions because they are not healthy for the organisation. We are calling on the older
generation of leaders not cling on to power, but to let young people to lead,” he said.