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ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivers the eulogy at former MEC Brian Hlongwa’s funeral.
The late Brian Hlongwa, the former Gauteng Health MEC, has been described as a leader who served with humility. This is according to African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Paul Mashatile who delivered the eulogy at his funeral service.
Mashatile, who once served as MEC for Finance and Economic Development, worked with Hlongwa, a former Health MEC in the Gauteng Provincial government.
Hlongwa passed away last week after a short illness. Mashatile told mourners that Hlongwa also enjoyed debating with others.
“He would never lose an argument. And I’m sure many of the young lions here of this generation would know that. I recall very much, I would spend some time with him, with friends and partners, during my birthday. So, I would go to a game reserve, spend three days there. And Brian would sit around the fire with some of the friends and they would argue until early hours of the morning.”
Mashatile says the late Hlongwa led through enlightenment. He praises Hlongwa for his political astuteness.
“At the O.R. Tambo School of Leadership, he didn’t just manage programmes, he cultivated the next generation of South African thinkers and shaped political discourse on social change amongst ANC activists and cadres. He was a seasoned political educator who was known for, amongst other things, his humility and selflessness in leadership. To Brian, political education was never about dogma, it was about empowering every cadre to think critically, lead ethically and serve selflessly.”
Today the ANC gathers to lay to rest Comrade Brian Hlongwa, honouring a life dedicated to service, discipline, and the advancement of the democratic state. We pay tribute to his contribution to the movement and the people, and reaffirm our commitment to the values he upheld… pic.twitter.com/bA3cEL2QjC
— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) December 31, 2025
This morning, I delivered a eulogy at the funeral of the late Comrade Thamsanqa Brian Hlongwa. He was a dedicated youth leader and public servant who served with distinction in the ANC and its structures, including the Gauteng Legislature and as MEC for Health. #RIPBrianHlongwa pic.twitter.com/BGOzofuBjm
— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) December 31, 2025
VIDEO | Former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa’s funeral service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eCfUoFoKf0
Corruption charges
At the time of his death, Hlongwa faced corruption and money laundering charges while he was the Gauteng Health MEC.
The family representative for Hlongwa, Dr Vusi Hlongwa, says the late former Gauteng Health MEC used his pension fund to defend the upcoming corruption trial.
Dr Hlongwa says Brian spent his final days trying to clear his name.
“He spent millions of rands. He told me that there are volumes of papers, and he paid the lawyers for every page in that volume. He spent his last time being ready to defend himself. And that is why today, when he can’t speak for himself, some of us will have to stand up and say, can they come and produce concrete evidence? I know that DA was just a smokescreen. And this so-called billions of rands that he siphoned, I wish we made a luxurious funeral with those billions. He had no billions.”
