The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Thabo Manyoni says he relied more on the late municipality’s deputy mayor, Connie Rampai. Rampai died in a fatal vehicle accident early Saturday morning on the N1 between Winburg and Verkeerdevlei. Manyoni says he always assigned Rampai to act as mayor and knew that she would insure that the institution functioned well in his absence.

“I was looking forward to having her in the next council, where she would be able to carry on with the legacy, that we that started with her when we came to office, in 2011”, Manyoni said.

“But nonetheless, I must indicate to people of Mangaung and the province that in this time, it is proper for us to accept the fact that, for every ending there is also a beginning. In other words, even if she might not be there, we have to learn from the path that she walked and be able to improve on our own, for those who are left behind so that we can at least say that where she left, we did try to improve.”

Manyoni, along with other members of the ANC provincial leadership, including the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature, Mamiki Qabathe, visited Rampai’s household on Monday to pay their respects.

Refilwe Gaeswe/Courant News