02/09/2026
📸 👏🏾 Honouring a Legacy of Service: A Tribute to 'Bro Vusi' Mahlangu 🫱🏾🫲🏼🫱🏾🫲🏼
The 31st of August marked the last day of service as Nkangala District Municipality gathered to bid a fond farewell and wish Mr. Vusi Mahlangu, popularly known as 'Bro Vusi' well as he bowed out after 23 years of dedicated public service. Serving as Manager for Social Services, now Community Development Services (CDS), Bro Vusi’s tenure has been defined by quiet strength, steady leadership, and a profound commitment to community development.
Reflecting on the early days of Nkangala District Municipality, the Chief Financial Officer, Mrs Alice Stander recalled starting alongside Bro Vusi when the municipal footprint was still in its infancy in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM).
NDM started out renting space at STLM, a very small NDM team in a time when NDM and its six locals were known as the Mighty Nkangala. Vusi was part of this winning team from the beginning. He is a reliable person who quietly makes his contribution, always prepared to step up whenever the municipality needed him.
Throughout his tenure, Bro Vusi served as an anchor for the department, frequently taking on acting roles as General Manager for CDS and Social Services. The CFO remembered late nights working through municipal deadlines, building a shared resilience and a deep workplace bond.
Bro Vusi’s 23-year journey at NDM mirrors the growth of the municipality itself. Arriving when the department consisted of just five staff members, he played a central role in establishing critical public service frameworks:
- 2003/04: Integrated Emergency Fire and Rescue Services from provincial governance.
- 2009/2010: Managed the Local Economic Development (LED) Unit in partnership with GIZ, introducing its first strategic frameworks.
- 2012: Led the devolution of Municipal Health Services (MHS) following the National Health Act.
- 2013: Spearheaded the establishment of the Pollution Control unit.
CDS colleague, Ms. Thembi Ndlovu described his departure as a bittersweet milestone, praising him as a well of knowledge, calm but sharp-minded. She offered blessings for his next chapter, invoking Psalm 91:16: "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Mr. Solly Links, the Divisional Manager for Municipal Health Services, commended Bro Vusi’s role as a mentor who taught corporate creativity and acted as a father figure across departments.
The Municipal Manager, Mr. Mandla Mahlangu added his gratitude, thanking the Mahlangu family for "lending" Bro Vusi to the institution for over two decades.
Adding a strong political voice to the proceedings, the SAMWU Provincial Chairperson, Brian Manyaka delivered a resounding tribute to honour Bro Vusi as one of the longest-serving and most honest members of the organisation. Emphasising SAMWU’s steadfast mandate, the chairperson noted that the union continuously advocates for all municipal workers to ensure members are recognized and remunerated accordingly for their labor. On behalf of organised labour, SAMWU commended Bro Vusi's unwavering integrity and wished him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Bro Vusi’s children; Happiness, Khaya, and Sandile expressed profound pride in their father’s journey, noting that NDM gave their dad a platform to build a lasting legacy through the years. They shared how his work truly left a mark, expressing deep gratitude for the relationships built along the way and adding how thankful they are that he will now be spending more time at home with the family.
In his response, Bro Vusi expressed gratitude to the accounting officer, senior managers, colleagues, political leadership, union representative from SAMWU, and the more than 150 CDS staff members who supported his work over the years.
"Serving young people, women, the elderly, and vulnerable communities has been both an obligation and a privilege that has enriched my life," said Bro Vusi.
"Success is always built on collaboration, mutual respect, teamwork, integrity, and perseverance," he added.
In a poignant closing moment, he thanked his wife and family for their steadfast support since he first moved to Middelburg when his youngest son, Sandile, was just 22 months old, a son who now stands beside him as he steps into retirement.
Bro Vusi leaves NDM to focus on family business, community involvement, and travel, leaving behind a legacy of integrity and unwavering dedication to the people of Nkangala.
👏🏾👏🏾
✨️🫡
![[REPOST] 🏡✨ Transforming the Property Sector: Official Launch of the Real Estate Learnership Programme at the Sydney Cho...](https://img5.govserv.org/599/587/1561635325995875.jpg)
![[REPOST] Extended DDM recently held at Nkangala District Municipality. Full article in the posr below ⬇️](https://img5.govserv.org/980/762/1556851129807628.jpg)
![[NEW MMC] 🫱🏾🫲🏼 Cllr. ME Banda Appointed as the MMC for Corporate Services! We wish him all the best in driving organiza...](https://img4.govserv.org/655/768/1556017226557685.jpg)
