PREMIER'S REMARKS
Master of Ceremonies
Members of the provincial executive council
Officials and members of the South African Police Service
The Mahlangu family and in-laws
Colleagues
Ladies and gentlemen.
It was with a great sense of devastation and sadness that we learned about the tragic and violent death of Deputy Area Commissioner of the Lowveld in Mpumalanga, Mandla Mahlangu.
On behalf of Premier NJ Mahlangu, members of his executive committee and the people of Mpumalanga, allow me to express our heartfelt sorrow and sincerest condolences to the bereaved family, Commissioner Mahlangu's colleagues and friends.
The people of this province are not strangers to memorial
services. But everytime we meet to mourn the passing of a friend, the more
difficult it becomes to understand what this thing called death really is.
Ladies and gentlemen, a great but gentle giant who strode this province like a
colossus has fallen. Fallen prey to the bullets of those who think they can rule
by the gun.
A mind whose thoughts have opened the doors to a secure province has ceased to function. A heart whose tireless energy gave hope to those victims of robbery, murder, rape, child abuse and other crimes, has forever lost its beat.
The gentle voice whose measured words of reason sent criminals to flight, has been silenced.Silenced by the bullets of those who think they can rule by the gun. All gunmen, whatever their colour and their shape and their garments, come today and are gone tomorrow.
The people, the victims of their violent deeds, live on. All
criminal syndicates and systems, whatever the name they give themselves all,
without exception, come today and tomorrow are no more than a bad memory.
We want those who snuffed out Commissioner Mahlangu's life in the most
cowardly manner imaginable to know that when brutal men deliberately kill those
of us who love peace,
When those with machineguns empty a magazine on a human
body in reply to our call to stop their criminal acts close.
We shall not stand by idly.
To say that the criminals have struck us a blow is to tell the truth. Commissioner Mahlangu is a positive loss because he was the type of leader who knew how to follow. He was the type of operative who yielded results.
He was a leader who in his sector produced results. And it is a test of leadership to be able to produce intended results. His life has been exclusively one of struggle for his people, for Africa, for mankind! I am immensely honoured to speak at the funeral of deputy commissioner Mandla Mahlangu.
Let me, on behalf of the government and people of Mpumalanga, express our heartfelt sorrow and sincere condolences to the Mahlangu family, relatives and friends.
In sharing Letta's pain and that of the other members of the family, allow me to pay homage to a man deserving of great admiration, respect and affection. An officer of peace, who sacrificed so much for the eradication of crime from the streets of the province.
The government dips its banner in honour of this dauntless, tireless fighter for the liberation of his country and its oppressed people.
The invaluable contribution of this dedicated and committed crime fighter will be sadly missed, especially at this critical time when our people are beginning to take the fight to the criminals declaring that enough is enough.
When criminals stop preying on our people and society; When our women and children in the province can walk the streets in relative safety at anytime of the day,
When we can declare that there is zero tolerance for the rape of our mothers, sisters and daughters. And when we can announce with a degree of satisfaction that there is no longer any abuse of children and women in our province,
Our people will be right in saying Commissioner Mahlangu played an important part in helping to lay the foundation for a better life for all.
When the working people start enjoying, as a right, a crime-free environment, a roof over their heads, affordable medical care, quality education and a rising standard of living, they will be right to say, Mandla Mahlangu did not struggle in vain.
In the sadness of death, and in memory of this great man, we continiously seek to emulate his tireless and selfless efforts in contributing towards freedom, peace and development.
The Mpumalanga government and its people once again conveys its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the people of the province during this painful period.
To the family, let me say please be comforted by the fact that the nation and the province share your grief, and we shall always s be at your side. We share in your grief and sorrow and pray that God will give you the strength to carry on with your lives.
May his soul rest in peace. We shared and continue to share the pain of his wife Letta and their children.
The past few weeks have been harrowing, not only to us as government, but to the family and friends of Mr Kleynhans. It is difficult for us to accept that Mr Kleynhans is no more. He was not given to being vain or boastful.
Today, as we bid him final farewell, let us remember that throughout his life he never asked for recognition. If you see tears welling in our eyes, it is because we cannot bear saying:
Farewell dear friend! Because we value peace, you will live forever!
Go well and farewell, dear friend.
To all family members and friends let me say: We know that you feel this pain more deeply. We cannot fully grasp the magnitude of your grief. Please be comforted by the fact that the nation and the province share your grief; and we shall always be at your side.
We share in your grief and sorrow and pray that God will give you the strength to carry on with your lives.
I thank you.