Moerane was a model servant of the people - President Ramaphosa

• Published date: 23 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the late former Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Moerane who passed away last week as an exemplary leader who exuded passion and commitment.

Moerane was buried over the weekend after he succumbed to injuries he sustained in a car crash two weeks ago.

At his funeral, the President delivered the eulogy in which he praised Moerane's commitment to the people of Johannesburg and its council.

'He loved this city and its people. I got to see, feel and touch the passion he had for this city as I worked with him for a few day last year, when I joined him in the campaign for the local government elections.

'He exuded total passion and commitment to addressing the needs of the people of Johannesburg. He was a compassionate and informed leader. I was impressed with the way he knew his city,' he said.

The President added that Moerane always showed humility even in the face of difficult discussions with community members.

'Where our people were angry because of service delivery challenges such as electricity, he was a peace-maker and a bridge-builder.

'I got to see what an influential leader he was as he interacted with our people in our many townships in Johannesburg, but in all his dealings with our people, he was humble. He was respectful of our people, and in turn earned their respect. He was an honest leader,' President Ramaphosa said.

Furthermore, the President hailed Moerane for embodying the spirit of government's 'Thuma Mina' leadership campaign.

'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...