Tributes for Songezo Mjongile from ANC

Songezo Mjongile (Archive)

• Tributes are coming to former ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile, who died.
• He announced in April that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer.
• His death on Thursday came as a shock to friends and fellow politicians who held him in high regard.

The ANC Youth League in the Western Cape was shocked by the death of former ANC Provincial Secretary Songezo Mjongile, who died after a short battle with cancer, while the DA sent its condolences.

“Comrade Songezo was a modern cadre. He started out in the youth league and through his commitment rose through the ranks of our movement. We deeply regret him and extend our condolences to his family, friends and comrades,” said Lerumo Kalako, convenor of the Youth of the ANC. League in the province.

Mjongile’s death came after he announced in April that he had colon cancer. He said the treatment had led to kidney failure and a heart attack.

He was a former provincial chapter leader of the South African Student Congress, former head of youth league investment company Lembede Investment Holdings, and served on the league’s executive and national working committees.

His death was greeted with surprise by friends and fellow politicians who had known him for many years.

ANC national spokesman Pule Mabe said the party was saddened by the news.

He said Mjongile died surrounded by relatives in Morningside, Johannesburg, on Thursday night.

He said the former provincial secretary and provincial treasurer, also known by his clan name Madiba, was a dedicated and committed activist.

Mjongile’s life became intertwined with many others during South Africa’s changing political landscape.

This was reflected in messages from people who had worked with him in youth league structures, including former ANCYL presidents Julius Malema and Fikile Mbalula, who also expressed their regret at his death, as well as organizations such as Cosatu, the Communist Party of South Africa and the Land Party. .

Things said he was devastated by the news, saying that Mjongile had joined the league at age 14. Things extended his condolences to his family and friends.

Western Cape DA leader Bonginkosi Madikizela said that despite their political differences, he considered Mjongile a gentleman.

“He understood that politics was a means to an end and not the end in itself,” Madikizela said.

Mjongile’s life was not without controversy, after he reached an agreement with SA Revenue Services on tax returns between 2001 and 2005.

He was also reportedly not allowed to do business with the government until 2014 over an apparent breach of contract that he said was related to a company owned by his ex-wife.

He was also ordered to repay more than R350,000 that he received from the late mining magnate Brett Kebble. This was in the course of liquidating a Kebble trust, and the ANC also agreed to return money the party had received from Kebble.

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