By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The family of Ekurhuleni Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport, Andile Mngwevu, has confirmed that his remains have been discovered more than a week after his vehicle was swept away by fierce floodwaters in Mozambique.
Mngwevu (40) was in the Chokwé area of southern Mozambique at the time of the incident.
A South African Rescue Mission deployed to Mozambique, did established contact with one of the five individuals who were travelling in the vehicle at the time it was swept away.
Over the past five days, areas in Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been battered by incessant rain as a storm that first started over Mozambique quickly travelled into the border provinces.
In a statement, the family said, “Mr Mngwevu tragically passed away while on a trip to Mozambique, when the vehicle he was travelling with was swept away by floods in the Chokwe region. This devastating incident left the family, friends, colleagues and the broader community heartbroken and struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.”
“Andile Mngwevu was a loving and devoted husband and a man whose life was defined by humility, compassion and unwavering commitment to serving others.
“The Mngwevu family humbly requests the public to keep them in prayers during this difficult and painful period. The family further requests privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved Andile, read the statement.
“Details regarding memorial and funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.
The African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni said it is deeply saddened by the passing of Mngwevu, together with fellow passengers, who tragically lost their lives.
ANC Ekurhuleni Regional Secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi said Mngwevu’s political activism began at age 15 through the Congress of South African Students while he was a learner at Kenneth Masikela Secondary School in KwaThema.
He later rose through the ranks of COSAS, serving at regional, provincial and national levels, including as national organiser.
He also served in the ANC Youth League as regional secretary and regional chairperson, where he focused on youth development and advocacy.
According to Dlabathi, his leadership roles included service on the ANC Regional Task Team, the Regional Executive Committee and as regional spokesperson.
Mngwevu also worked in government at the Gauteng departments of education and health before being deployed to the City of Ekurhuleni as a strategic adviser and public representative.
Mozambique disaster management authorities said 103 people had died during an unusually severe rainy season since late last year.
The figure includes deaths caused by flooding, lightning strikes, infrastructure collapse and a cholera outbreak linked to contaminated water supplies.