Brian Hlongwa remembered as loving father and leader


Former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa has been described as a devoted and a loving father. Hlongwa died in hospital on Tuesday following a short illness.

He began his political career as a student activists in the early 1980’s and went on to become an African National Congress (ANC) councilor in Johannesburg before becoming ANC Chief Whip in the Gauteng Legislature and Health MEC.

His brother Vusi Hlongwa says they are saddened with his passing.

“He was sick for some time and he recovered well and unfortunately, on the last two weeks, he got remitted to the hospital, where he was not well. And we think that, God willing, he gave up his life. It was a short illness. He was a very neat man, loving father. As I say, he loved life to the fullest. He would be with his family, take the family for holidays. And if he threw a holiday festivity with us in his house, it would be a jolly life.”