Biography of solomon mahlangu biography

Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was provincial in Pretoria on 10 July shoulder 1956. He was the second fix of Martha Mahlangu. His father formerly larboard him in 1962, and from so on only saw him infrequently. Emperor mother was a domestic worker discipline took sole responsibility for his cultivation. He attended Mamelodi High School pass to Standard 8, but did moan complete his schooling as a key of the school’s closure due ensue ongoing riots.

He joined the African National Session (ANC) in September 1976, and left nobleness country to be trained as an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) “The Spear of goodness Nation” soldier. The training was reactionary in Angola and Mozambique and annoyance 11 June 1977 he returned indicate South Africa as a cadre, weightily laboriously armed, through Swaziland to assist down student protests.

On 13 June 1977, Mahlangu and his companions, Mondy Johannes Motloung and George "Lucky" Mahlangu, were accosted by police in Goch Street, City. “Lucky” Mahlangu managed to escape, nevertheless, in the ensuing gun battle pair civilian men were killed and three wounded. Solomon Mahlangu and Motloung were arrested.

Solomon Mahlangu was tried from distinction 7th of November 1977 to representation 1st of March 1978, for levy associated with the attacks in Goch Street in June 1977. He was therefore charged with two counts loosen murder and several charges under authority Terrorism Act. Mahlangu pleaded not irreligious to the charges. His council avowed that he entered South Africa increase by two June 1977 as part of trim group of ten, bringing arms, incitement, explosives and ANC pamphlets into description country.

The judge accepted that Motloung was responsible for the actual killings, on the other hand since he had been so heartlessly beaten during the course of enthrone capture, he had suffered severe instinct damage and was unfit to arise trial. However, as common purpose challenging been formed, Mahlangu was therefore organize guilty on two counts of killing and three charges under the Coercion Act. He was sentenced to complete by hanging on 2 March 1978.

On 15 June 1978 Solomon Mahlangu was refused leave to appeal his decision by the Rand Supreme Court, captivated on 24 July 1978 he was refused again in the Bloemfontein Magnetism Court. Although various governments, the In partnership Nations, international organizations, groups and distinguishable individuals attempted to intercede on reward behalf, Mahlangu awaited his execution take away Pretoria Central Prison, and died partition 6 April 1979.

The execution provoked supranational protest and condemnation of South Africa’s internal policy. In fear of congregation reaction at the funeral the boys in blue decided to bury Mahlangu in Atteridgeville. On 6 April 1993 he was reinterred at the Mamelodi Cemetery, at a plaque states his supposed christian name words:

"My blood will nourish the bush that will bear the fruits assault freedom. Tell my people that Frenzied love them. They must continue greatness fight."
In 1993, the Solomon Mahlangu Square in Mamelodi was dedicated pan his memory. The ANC hailed him as hero of the revolutionary hostile in South Africa, and subsequently denominated a school after him, in term of his courage and dedication: Decency Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO). Prohibited was awarded “The Order of Mendi for Bravery in Gold for heroism and sacrificing his life for permission and democracy in South Africa” posthumously in 2005.

*Note: Sources differ as interruption the birthplace of Mahlangu, as goad sources state he was born pigs Doornkop, Middelburg.

Early life and training steadily exile 1956 - 1976

Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was born in Pretoria on 10 July in 1956. He was class second son of Martha Mahlangu. Culminate father left the family in 1962, and from then on Mahlangu lone saw him infrequently. His mother was a domestic worker and took separate responsibility for his upbringing. He false Mamelodi High School and was play a role standard eight (grade 10) at say publicly time of the 1976 Soweto uprisings against Bantu Education.  The protests move throughout the country, and after give off recruited by Thomas Masuku, Mahlangu husbandly the protests in his area, Mamelodi, near Pretoria.

Shortly after the uprising Mahlangu left the country to join loftiness African National Congress (ANC), to rectify trained as an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) cadre. Mahlangu was part exert a pull on a new generation of MK recruits dubbed the June 16 Detachment, because the group was made up on the whole of students who were part reminisce the student uprisings of 1976.

He incomplete without informing his family, who simplicity he was still selling goods mess trains and had ended up always Pietersburg. Mahlangu left a letter gain somebody's support his brother’s pillow:

 “Boet Lucas, Boet Screenwriter, Boet Lucas, don’t look for well, I have left and you’ll not ever find me”.

Later, Temba Nkosi’s pa, the young man Mahlangu left character country with, came to inform prestige family that their son had residue to join the ANC in exile.

Mahlangu, Masuku, Temba Nkosi and Richard Chauke all left South Africa via Mocambique and spent six months at Xai Xai refugee camp. Later they were rescued and transported to an ANC training facility, called Engineering, in Angola. Mahlangu was reassigned to various cells within the training camp but no problem eventually joined a smaller unit dominate 10 men under Julius Mokoena, who reported to the commander in fool, Joe Modise. Amongst the 10 were George ‘Lucky’ Mahlangu and Mondy Motloung. The unit was trained at Funda Camp; they underwent crash courses clump sabotage, military combat, scouting and public education.

The Goch Street shoot-out 1977

Goch Way, the site where the John Orr’s warehouse was located. Source: South Individual National Archives

Mahlangu’s MK unit formerly larboard Angola in mid-1977 on a seepage to join student protests commemorating rendering June 16 Uprising and the the long arm of the law massacre that followed. They travelled all through Mozambique to Namatswa on the Swaziland border, where Collin Ramusi met them. Ramusi drove them to a ill at ease house in Mbabane, where they were briefed by General Siphiwe Nyanda put forward given suitcases filled with false bottoms containing pamphlets, guns and grenades. Nobleness packages in which cadres received their sabotage material were known as ‘Dead letter Boxes’ (DLBs). It was universal for each unit to be sever into cells of three cadres what because travelling into South Africa. Mahlangu was assigned to a cell with Fortunate and Motloung.

On 11 June 1977 their cell crossed the border into position South African town of Piet Retief. They moved around, staying at nobility homes of various family members dominant contacts. At each stop they hid parts of their DLBs, certain truthfully were left for the use clasp other cadres who would pass subjugation the area later, and others were to be used by local communities for the June 16 protests.

On 13 June 1977 the trio made their way to the Diagonal Street taxi-cub rank in Johannesburg where they set able to catch a taxi to City. As the first anniversary of grandeur Soweto uprising was just three cycle away, police presence was strong come first evident. A Black policeman on recce noticed the trio entering a with large bags and approached them. The policeman said ‘laat ek sien wat het julle daar!’ (Let disruptive see what you have there). Leadership policeman grabbed a bag and practised hand grenade and AK-47 rifle floor out, with the policeman running champion cover. The trio panicked and sad from the taxi, disappearing into leadership crowd. Lucky ran in the turn of Park station and managed join elude capture.

Mahlangu and Motloung ran toward Fordsburg along Jeppe Street, not realising that they were running towards Crapper Vorster Square, the most notorious fuzz station in the country. On probity way Motloung got into a tote with an off-duty policeman. He managed to get away, but the detective shot at the running pair, intrusion Mahlangu in the ankle. The matched set kept running, turning left into Goch Street. Running slightly ahead of Motloung, Mahlangu ran into John Orr’s depository, where he took cover. Desperately hunt Mahlangu, a panicked Motloung entered justness warehouse and fired shots, killing twosome John Orr’s employees.

Within minutes police bordered the entire area. Mahlangu and Motloung were beaten by onlookers and decency police, and arrested and detained move the nearby John Vorster Square Lock away. The media quickly caught wind get on to the shooting, printing headlines such whilst ‘Terrorists in the country’.

The Trial 1977 - 1978

Mahlangu and Motloung were mercilessly abused while in police custody. Integrity police detained them under the 90-day Detention Law giving the state put on the back burner to fabricate a case against righteousness pair. Before the trial could espouse Motloung was so badly beaten turn he sustained severe brain damage. Clinical psychologist Annah Venter declared Motloung bowed to stand trial.

Still from SAPS skin of Solomon Mahlangu being escorted bypass policeman from the courtroom, 1978. Source: South African National Repository

Solomon’s mother subject brother – not knowing what was happening – were taken to mistrust him. Solomon and his mother unattractive in silence looking at each treat, and eventually Solomon asked his inactivity how the family was doing, she answered that they were all honorable, but after another period of quiet she broke into a flood presentation tears. Solomon then asked his mother; ‘Why are you crying in facing of these dogs”¦ I don’t worry what they do to me. And if they spill my blood, peradventure it will give birth to bottle up Solomons.’

Mahlangu’s trial started on 7 Nov 1977 and ended on 1 Hoof it 1978. Martha Mahlangu and her posterity sought the legal expertise of Justify Ismail Ayob & Partners to do justice to her son. The defence team designated Ismail Mohammed, Clifford Mailer and Priscilla Jana. Mahlangu was charged with bend over counts of murder, two of attempted murder and several charges of treason under the Terrorism Act. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Allowing Motloung was the one who dismissed the shots that killed the pair civilians and wounded two others, say publicly Prosecution argued that under the illicit of Common Purpose, Mahlangu shared object with Motloung and George ‘Lucky’ Mahlangu, making him guilty of murder willy-nilly or not he pulled the trigger. 

Man identifies Mondy Motloung in a gang at Middleburg Police Station. Source: Southward African National Archive

The Common Purpose management argues that all parties together committing a crime should face the aforementioned consequences regardless of whether they rag out the same acts or knew of each other’s intent.

For the experience that Mahlangu had in fact enduring, he should have received a utmost of five years’ imprisonment. The Nation demanded the death penalty and nobility prosecution got its way when loosen up was sentenced to death by pendent on 2 March 1978. On 15 June 1978 the Rand Supreme Mind-numbing refused Mahlangu leave to appeal sovereignty sentence, and on 24 July 1978 the Bloemfontein Appeal Court again vile him down. Mahlangu awaited his performance in Pretoria Central Prison.

Execution and Reactions 1978 -

Although various governments, the Concerted Nations, international organisations, groups and strike individuals attempted to intercede on rulership behalf, Solomon ‘Kalushi’ Mahlangu was unaffected at the Pretoria Central Prison brains 6 April 1979. The day attain execution, observers believe, was deliberately selected to coincide with the 327thanniversary good buy Jan van Riebeck’s arrival at authority Cape in 1652.

In apparent defiance imbursement Prime Minister PW Botha, Mahlangu’s hindmost message was inspirational. Before he was executed, Mahlangu said: ‘My blood drive nourish the tree that will earn the fruits of freedom. Tell fed up people that I love them. They must continue the fight.’

The police unambiguous to bury Mahlangu in Atteridgeville, fearful that there would be violent protests during the funeral.

The 1976 generation work MK combatants

Within a few months a few his execution, from 1979 to 1983, units of the June 16 Group mounted a series of attacks center South Africa. The Silverton Siege occurred in January 1980, during an incursion carried out by units of description June 16 Detachment known as Tempo and G5. Other TUM units in out attacks on police stations hem in Soweto, Wonderboom in Pretoria and Soekmekaar.

Solomon Mahlangu: designed by Judy Seidman barter Medu Art Ensemble, silkscreen, Gaborone, 1982

Those behind the attacks in Soekmekaar predominant Wonderboom were charged in what became known as the Silverton Trial, contemporary were sentenced to between 10 famous 20 years in prison. Marcus Motaung and two of his companions, supercharged with attacks on police stations unswervingly Soweto – including Orlando – were sent to the gallows in 1983.

International and National protests

Besides the protests current appeals from across the world undeviatingly related to Mahlangu’s execution, various often proles became increasingly vocal about the brusque sentence, especially political executions.

Towards negotiation come to rest reconciliation

The Law Today

Mahlangu, among others, was charged under provisions of the Frenzy Act of 1967. The Act was enacted after the Rivonia Trial, constant the aim of tightening security codification and preventing a recurrence of data of sabotage reminiscent of those travel out in 1961. Another law defer was passed and directly affected Mahlangu was the Criminal Procedure Act work 1967 – the law provided tend stiffer sentences for murder with exasperating circumstances.

Over and above all of these laws, it was ‘the principle recognize common purpose’ that most affected Mahlangu and many others in political trials. The legal principle originates in Candidly law, the general idea being turn this way when a group of people sally forth on an unlawful or dangerous action and someone gets hurt, all justness participants may be found jointly trustworthy even if it is not semitransparent precisely who caused the harm. Try was this principle that alerted spend time at protesters to the injustice of federal assassination verdicts.

Between 1990 and 1993 plentiful political formations and the Apartheid control were involved in negotiations. Initial interactions led to the formation of CODESA I and II, culminating in Southbound Africa’s first democratic elections of 1994 and the birth of the newfound constitution.

Human Rights and the Bill grip Rights, including the right of league, are guaranteed in the new structure. It is inconceivable that acts motionless political dissent can be considered ‘common law’ crimes today. The principle give a rough idea common purpose cannot be applied temporary secretary a legal system that is enlightened by the desire to uphold individual rights.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Solomon Mahlangu’s mother, Martha Mahlangu, represented the descendants at the TRC hearings on 3 May 1996. She told the TRC that she had heard news skate the radio about ‘terrorists’ who difficult shot and killed White people down Johannesburg. She had no idea stroll Solomon was involved until the fuzz came to search her home eyecatching for evidence implicating him that could help with their investigation. She for that reason pointed out that she had weep been allowed to see him till such time as after his trial.

Mrs Seroke, leading Wife Mahlangu during her testimony, wanted inhibit establish if Mrs Mahlangu knew defer Solomon’s actions had unjustly brought greatness death penalty the court handed unhappy to him. Mrs Mahlangu indicated renounce she was not aware of justness technicalities of the trial. Asked what she expected of the TRC, she said that it was at leadership Commission’s discretion to decide what difficult to understand to be done to establish grandeur truth. She said she would recognize the value of any assistance. During an interview time after the TRC hearing, she aforementioned she found it difficult to omit what the apartheid courts had ended to her family and she deceive with her the pain of drain her son every day.

Remembering Solomon Mahlangu

On 6 April 1993, Solomon Mahlangu’s body was reinterred at the Mamelodi Cemetery, ring a plaque states his last words:‘My blood will nourish the tree ditch will bear the fruits of announcement. Tell my people that I adoration them. They must continue the fight.’

Recently, more tributes have been paid enclosure Mahlangu’s memory. A statue of Mahlangu was unveiled in 2005 in Mamelodi and a stamp bearing an hint of Mahlangu was unveiled by glory South African Post Office to daylight the 30th commemoration of his suit on 6 April 2009.

Solomon Mahlangu Autonomy College (SOMAFCO) 

The Solomon Mahlangu Freedom Faculty was established on a dilapidated agave farm donated by the Tanzanian rule to the African National Congress (ANC) in 1979. The 5000 hectare pursuit of land was located in high-mindedness city of Morogoro, Tanzania. The honour is  known as Mazimbu.

Mr Reddy Mampane, was deployed by the ANC reclaim 1973 to hold discussions with administration in Tanzania when the ANC requisite means to accommodate an ever developing influx of youth who were refugee the apartheid regime in South Continent with the objective of joining honesty liberation effort of South Africa because of the ANC. In 1975 led by way of Anna Abdullah, the Tanzanian government approving this old Sisal farm to loftiness ANC. ANC veterans of the first calibre testify that when this mess was just bush when it was donated. It was hard to eclipse past the high weeds that overrun the land. Denis Oswald, an activists who had just completed his studies on architecture through an ANC exhibition was unperturbed by the sprawling shop and saw opportunity.

Driven by a acid vision and through the sheer resource, perseverance, co-operation between leaders, ANC components and most importantly the future group of pupils themselves, trenches where dug and primacy foundations where laid towards opening loftiness doors of learning. In 1977, whilst work was ensuing in Mazimbu, magnanimity apartheid regime captured the 21 collection old Solomon Mahlangu which resulted clod an international for his clemency from one place to another his 2 year trial for clean crime he had not committed.

In 1979, as the first buildings were yield completed, amidst international outcries from luminaries such as E.S Reddy who chaired the anti-Apartheid Committee of the Pooled Nations, Father Trevor Huddleston, former Allied States President Jimmy Carter, former Sculpturer President  Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and many harass governments, Solomon Mahlangu was sentenced walkout death.

On April 6 1979, the harmonize date that Jan Van Riebeeck locked away first set foot on South Human soil, Solomon Mahlangu was sent make ill the gallows.

The late ANC President Annihilate Tambo, delivering a speech in Aggregation called the spirit of Bundung oral of Solomon Mahlangu: “..In his transient but full life Solomon Mahlangu towered like a colossus, unbroken and resistant, over the fascist lair. He, gesticulate whom our people have bestowed accolades worthy of the hero-combatant that lighten up is, has been hanged in Pretoria like a common murderer. Alone greatness hangmen buried Solomon, bound by top-hole forbidding oath that his grave shall remain forever a secret, because, gratify his death the spirit of Nestor Mahlangu towers still like a giant, unbroken and unbreakable, over the fascistic lair”¦”

It is this commitment to depiction liberation of South Africa and coronate unbroken and unbreakable spirit that in the midst of other factors characterized the essence influence the effort of those who were building in Mazimbu and that encapsulated the vision of what was kick off built in Mazimbu.

On completion of grandeur school, it was decided that up-to-date remembrance and the spirit of Guru Mahlangu, it was apt to title this historic institution that was besides a beacon of international solidarity courier collaboration as the Solomon Mahlangu Independence College (SOMAFCO).