His brother, White Mohapi, confirmed the sad news of the passing of his brother in the Pretoria Military Hospital on Tuesday morning. “He was ill for some time and was taken to hospital to be stabilised and was later transferred to 1 Military Hospital where he passed away,” White Mohapi said.

Until recently, Mohapi was still involved with the Mangaung Youth Club. He was a founder member of the United Democratic Front and was still involved with the ANC.

“Whilst comrades are engaging in saving the soul of the movement at the conference, another stalwart, fearless and gallant son of the soil from Bloemfontein, has fallen. Someone who stood tall despite challenges faced within and outside. Someone who stood for the principles of the ANC that he believed in. We salute you, Comrade Mohapi. May your soul find everlasting rest and join the likes of Commandant Caleb Motshabi, Vax Mayekiso, Luki Nkonka, Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Lilian Ngoyi and others. We salute you. It was a privilege serving with you,” said Rassie Erasmus, employer at the Mangaung Metro Municipality.

Kobus Spies, a chartered accountant, who was a former colleague, said: “I was a member of the Mangaung Municipal Transitional Council under mayorship of Jani Mohapi, from November 1994 to November 1995. This was a time when everything was new to everybody. Those who were part of the struggle were, all of a sudden, part of the structure – Jani, colonialistically formal in robe, chain and tailored suit, and all the others ‘struggling’ in the new ‘structure’. Thank heavens, since 1995 our ‘communities’ came together and today we can share laughs but also cry together about the passing of a colleague, even if you were not one of his comrades,” said Spies.

Funeral arrangements will be communicated at a later stage.

Bloemfontein Courant/Jeretha Oosthuizen