By Jonk wa Mashamba
Editor-In-Chief
news@alexreporter.co.za
The funeral was held at Kwa-Bekilanga Spots Grounds, in Alex on Sunday
“Today is a sad day. But it is also a day of celebration and a day of expression of love.
“We had all held out hope that our dear comrade and colleague would recover from his injuries.
“Just a few days ago I was told that he was making progress and responding well to treatment. But what we on earth hope and wish for, we do not always receive.”
Ramaphosa quoted Isiah 55 verse 8 which says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”
Ramaphosa ,on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, offered his condolences to the Moerane family, who have lost a husband, father and brother.
“Our condolences also go to the ANC in Gauteng for having lost a dedicated leader. Our thoughts are with his many comrades, colleagues and friends who are mourning him.
“We have seen all the heartfelt tributes from not just his colleagues in the City of Johannesburg, but from those who interacted with him over the years.
“We have heard from members of the media who described him as being affable and always available to answer their questions and grant interviews.
“As I listened to all the tributes to Comrade Mpho, the one attribute that stood out was his approach to work – to volunteerism to selflessness.
“As I reflected on this attribute, another verse from Isiah came to mind ,Isiah 6, verse 8 says: ‘And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, here I am, send me.’
“Comrades, colleagues,we always speak highly of servant leadership. We extoll its virtues on public platforms. We put the words ‘Thuma Mina, ‘Send Me’ in our policy documents and on our official banners, and use them to round off our speeches to the people.
“And yet, there is sometimes a gap between what we profess and what we do.”
The president described Moerane as the model of a servant leader.
“He was the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg for only a brief moment having stepped into the breach following the untimely passing of his predecessor, Mayor Jolidee Matongo.
“After the 2021 local elections, he had to move to another role. He didn’t lay traps for his successor or foment sabotage.
“He didn’t cling to the mayoral chain and cause chaos in the chamber. He deferred to the will of the electorate, to the instructions of the leadership of the province, presiding over a smooth handover and transition, and returned to work as leader of the ANC caucus.”
Ramapho said in that role, Moerane did all he could to ensure the council was run in a spirit of cooperation and that all views would be respected.
He said Moerane believed in taking responsibility and in accountability, including for decisions that were made by his predecessors.
“Where his movement deployed him, he went. He was loyal to the ANC and served it without expectation of personal reward.
“He respected and safeguarded the resources meant for the people. He believed in the renewal of the ANC and worked for the restoration of its founding values, for which our forebears laid down their lives.
“No task or job was beneath him, or unbefitting of his stature as a senior leader. He sat with learners to resolve their challenges with sanitation at school, and put on overalls and gloves to pick up waste on the streets of Alexandra.
“I will never forget seeing the story late last year of Comrade Mpho, his loving wife Fikile and children arriving at Alexandra Community Healthcare Centre to get vaccinated.
“At the time, vaccination rates were declining in the province, especially among young people. There he was, getting himself and his family vaccinated, publicly in a community clinic in the township he was born.
“In doing so he was demonstrating confidence, not just in the vaccine and the rollout programme, but in our government facilities.
“He was telling the people of South Africa that he was from them, with them and amongst them, as all leaders should be.”
Ramaphosa said in according Moerane this type of funeral, a civic funeral, they were honoring his contribution to the City of Johannesburg and its people.
“His funeral is here in Alexandra amongst his people, in the place he grew up and where everyone knew him and loved him.
“The cruel hand of fate deprived him of many more years with his family and friends.
“It has deprived his country of many more years of service, but even in the short time he served, he left his mark.”
