SEBOKENG. – The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA), the youth wing of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Vaal District is mourning one of its young leaders, Bongani Mokoena, who died in a car accident on Friday, December 8.

Mokoena was currently serving as the Young Communist League of South Africa’s (YCLSA) Vaal District member after he was appointed together with others by the Provincial Committee of the YCLSA in Gauteng Province.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, the South African Communist Party (SACP) Vaal District Secretary, Thembinkosi Pulu said that Mokoena was a very soft-spoken yet decisive young ‘Red’, who started his political activism in COSAS where he served along with other young leaders committed to the struggles of learners in Basic Education level.

After finishing his matric Mokoena then went to study at North West University (NWU) Vaal Triangle Campus where Pulu said that Mokoena worked tirelessly to mobilise students in the institution to fight racism, victimisation of student leaders and suppression of student politics.

“His activism at NWU was ignited by harsh conditions resulting in the Institution giving student leaders an ultimatum of either focusing on their academics or face the brutal expulsion method. Bongani believed and understood that the primary task in the institution of higher learning is academic excellence,” Pulu said adding that at the time of his passing, Mokoena was involved in strategic meetings with leaders of SASCO, YCLSA, and ANCYL to include the “revolution movement” to be formally accepted as a PYA component at NWU.

“Bongani’s life will be highly celebrated by the students and also learners as he was very loyal to COSAS, and he was very instrumental in rebuilding and repositioning COSAS in Sedibeng. He worked tirelessly to unite COSAS as the Senior member of COSAS. Bongani met his ultimate death while he was working tirelessly to reposition the ANC, Elizabeth Lentanta branch in Sebokeng West, he was also involved in the rebuilding of the SACP branch in Boitumelo.  The Congress movement has lost a very young and mature leader who was supposed to work together with others towards the rebuilding of the YCLSA and ANCYL.”

Mokoena was buried over the weekend.