Slain Dennis Mangope laid to rest

Slain Randfontein resident and former West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) spokesperson Dennis Refentse Mangope was laid to rest this past weekend.

This was during an emotional send off on November 26 at the Heroes Square Cemetery in Greenhills.

• Also read: Former WRDM spokesperson shot dead in Mohlakeng 

Mangope was shot and killed in Mohlakeng on November 18 in what is believed to be an execution style shooting.

He was travelling alone and had parked his car when the incident occurred. He was shot twice and succumbed to his injuries thereafter.

At the time of his death, Mangope was the Liaison Officer for the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Ntombi Mekgwe’s office.

Scores of people including politicians and supporters affiliated to the African National Congress (ANC) were in attendance.

His mourning wife Moipone Mangope took to the stage to speak about the slain activist.

“I have strengthened myself to speak about my husband whom I met while we were students at Phahama Secondary School in 1990.

“Our relationship started off as family friends and I called him Pa, when we were happy. I never saw this day coming. I never took it seriously whenever he mentioned death. What I am asking is what was the reason for taking the life of my man. It is truly sad that we will never see you again,” said a distraught Mangope.

Meanwhile, struggle veterans Thami Luphuko and Vusi Mavuso described the late Mangope as radical, militant and a disciplined individual who was way ahead of his time as a youth league member.

Prior to this, Mangope was appointed as a Ward Councillor in Mohlakeng and later moved on to being appointed as the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of the Infrastructure Department in the defunct Randfontein Local Municipality.

He then moved on to being appointed as a Chief Whip of the WRDM and later served as the spokesperson in that institution as well.