THE NATION MOURNS THE DEATH OF IKOSI MAHLANGU, AH NDABEZITHA

BY STAFF REPORTER
The country is mourning the death of Ikosi Sipho Mahlangu who succumbed to covid 19 complications.
His death was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday when he was addressing the nation.
Ikosi Mahlangu is the first born son of late Ikosi Senzangakhona James Mahlangu who was the son of late Ikosi Mabusabesala David Mabhoko of AmaNdebele wakwaNzunza Community. He hails from eMthambothini kwaSimunyembiwa, KwaNzunza-Mabusa Traditional Council.
He was also the chairperson of the national house of Traditional and Khoi San leaders (NHTL).
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said Mahlangu’s passing came at a time when the sector was coming to terms with the losses of other prominent leaders to the pandemic which has taken lives of loved ones and disrupted communities.
“We acknowledge and value his contribution in ensuring that traditional leaders work with government in containing the spread of Covid-19 and create conditions suitable for stopping the spread in communities.
“We have lost a gallant and a selfless servant of the people who spared no effort in striving to build a united, effective and efficient institution of traditional leaders which served communities and has at its heart their development,” Dlamini Zuma said.
She described Mahlangu as someone who loved and believed in education as a key to success of communities.
“He led by example when he matriculated in 1992 and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Administration in 1995 from the University of the Western Cape and then further completed a Business Management Certification Course in Unisa 1999.
ANC’s spokesperson Pule Mabe said Ikosi Mahlangu played a significant part in strengthening the role of traditional leadership at the local sphere of government as well as deepening the values of constitutional democracy and the principles of co-operative governance.
“The nation has indeed lost one of its committed servants who dedicated his life to the service of the people of South Africa. Ikosi Mahlangu will be remembered for his tough stance against Gender-Based Violence as well as the administration of land rights,” Mabe said.
He described Ikosi Mahlangu as an active leader who strived to transform the posture of the institution of traditional leadership from that of an inward to an outward looking one.
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said Mahlangu will be remembered as a champion of rural development.
“Ikosi Mahlangu advanced the cause of rural communities by ensuring that their aspirations find space in the developmental agenda of the country. The Agrarian Revolution, the Sustainable Comprehensive Rural Development Programme and the Rural Development Strategies designed to intensify the fight against the high levels of poverty and food insecurity in rural areas, introduced during his tenure as chairperson of the NHTL, attest to this. This endeared him as the mouthpiece of the previously marginalized communities,” Mtshweni-Tsipane said.
The Manala Mgibe Traditional Authority thanked Ikosi Mahlangu for the role he had played in the development of the nation of AmaNdebele and the people of SA.
Prince Thulani Mabena of the Manala Mgibe Traditional Authority said Ikosi Mahlangu appreciated that the only way they were going to transform living conditions of rural people was for them to make sure that land is returned to its original owners.