Gauteng Premier David Makhura said on Friday that and that the African National Congress- (ANC-) led government had a duty to govern properly and fight to dispel perceptions that African liberation movements are inherently corrupt.

“When we make mistakes as the ANC in government, we let so many Africans down. We let many people down when we do not govern correctly. Power must not run into our heads,” Makhura said.

“When we allow state capture, we are sending the message that liberation movements are inherently corrupt and cannot govern once they are in power.”

Makhura was speaking at the special official provincial funeral of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) stalwart, Philip Kgosana, in Pretoria on Friday. Kgosana died on April 19, at the age of 80 after a short illness.

Makhura said government needed to do more to honour struggle heroes like Kgosana and thanked the PAC for requesting an official funeral for its veteran.

Makhura said government had made a mistake of not paying attention to honouring South African heroes and heroines who participated in the struggle.

He said Kgosana had never wavered in his beliefs and commitment for the liberation of the African continent, and had understood his mission in life.

“We would like to say thanks to the Kgosana family for sharing Ntate Kgosana with us. We need to do more to honour the galaxy of leadership from different organisations who sacrificed their youth for freedom. Ntate Kgosana’s beliefs and political thought were shaped by Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe,” Makhura said.

“Kgosana was a selfless leader who dedicated his life to the service of humanity and to the cause of Africa. We have a lot to learn from Ntate Kgosana’s leadership. We must continue the fight to ensure that land is returned to the people of our country especially Africans. We must never forget, freedom was not free.”

Kgosana led more than 30,000 anti-pass laws protesters from Langa, Cape Town in a march to the apartheid parliament in the 1960s.

He devoted his entire life to the liberation struggle and served in various leadership roles in the PAC while studying at the University of Cape Town.

Thousands of mourners attended Kgosana’s funeral service at the Tshwane Events Centre was attended by thousands of mourners, including former President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Earlier during the funeral service, Kgosana’s long-time friends described him as a patriot, a true pan Africanist and a man of many talents.

Kgosana would be laid to rest at Lady Selbourne Cemetery in Pretoria. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Alice Kgosana, his sister, five children and eight grandchildren.