The June and Andrew Mlangeni Foundation on Wednesday mourned the death of its patron, Andrew Mlangeni, who was the last surviving Rivonia trialist who along with other icons such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu languished on Robben Island for fighting apartheid. 

“Mlangeni was an unrelenting combatant for the freedom of the people of South Africa who personified the best qualities engraved in the Constitution of our country,” said the foundation's chairperson, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize. 

"Baba Mlangeni lived his life a gallant freedom fighter who, after nine and a half decades, remained an activist in cementing the democratic values of transparency, accountability and the promotion of good governance.” 

Mkhize said that over the years, Mlangeni, through his foundation, had dedicated himself to feeding and distributing blankets to the poor and vulnerable. 

“As passionate as he was about nation-building, Baba Mlangeni also ensured that young girls in his community received sanitary towels, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, so that they could go through their periods with dignity,” she said. 

Mkhize said the funeral arrangements will be released in due course as well as information on how the public can send their condolences while adhering to South Africa’s Covid-19 regulations. 

The Presidency announced on Wednesday that Mlangeni died in Pretoria at the age of 95. 

It had earlier issued a statement of well wishes for Mlangeni, who celebrated his birthday last month, saying he had been admitted to the 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane in South Africa’s capital on July 14 with an abdominal complaint.