"My blood shall nourish the tree that will bear fruits of freedom. Tell my people I love them. They must continue to fight. Aluta continua," Solomon Mahlangu on the occasion of his hanging on 6 April 1979. Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was born in 1956 in Mamelodi, Pretoria and grew up in the Ndebele section of the township. His father left him in 1962 to be raised by his mother Martha; who was a domestic worker in Waterkloof. Kalushi used to sell fruits and sweets on local train to supplement his family's income. He had ambition to become a teacher when he grew up.
After Soweto student uprising on 16 June 1976, South Africa witnessed an unprecedented militancy from black township students from one region to the other. At the age of 20 in September 1976, Solomon was introduced to ANC branch and was later recruited into uMkhoto weSizwe underground network by Thomas Masuku. Solomon only progressed up to Std 8 at Mamelodi high. On the night that he disappeared, Solomon sneaked a note under his brother's pillow written "bhut' Lucas, bhuti Lucas, I have gone away. Don't look for me."
Solomon and few other comrades left the country and settled in Xai-Xai Mozambique for few months before Jacob Zuma facilitated their clandestine transit to Angola. Upon arrival in Angola they received rudimentary guerrilla warfare training for about 8 months. They were then dispatched to Swaziland where they received a line of march from General Siphiwe Nyanda.
In June 1977 Solomon Mahlangu, Mondy Motloung and George Mahlangu sneaked back into South Africa on a mission to blow up Tembisa police station. On 13 June they arrived in downtown Johannesburg. Out of curiosity, they decided to go to Soweto first to check out how the first anniversary of June 16 was coming along. They were spotted by a black police officer when boarding a taxi to Soweto.
He was inquisitive why young black men were carrying such heavy bags. Police officer grabbed a bag and a grenade fell out. Young combatants panicked and ran away. A shootout ensued with police and Solomon was shot in the ankle. Judging from Motloung's military precision, police realised they were up against trained guerrillas.
Solomon ran ahead of Motloung and took cover at John Orrs (now Stuttafords) warehouse in Goch street. Motloung barged in looking for his comrade and found to white males who wouldn't answer where Solomon was. Out of frustration, he shot them dead. Police arrived on the scene, Motloung wanted to shoot them too but, his Skorpion vz.61 rifle jammed. Police overpowered and beat him severely. Solomon came back looking for Motloung only to be accosted and beaten by police.
George Mahlangu managed to escape. On the way to John Vorster Square prison, all Motloung could say was "Solomon, Solomon, Solomon." A judge admitted that Solomon never fired a single shot but, because Motloung has suffered brain damage; he couldn't stand trial. The court applied Doctrine of common purpose and charged Solomon with two counts of murder and terrorism.
Solomon's trial started without the knowledge of his defence team which included Ismael Mohamed and Priscilla Jana. He pleaded not guilty but, was found guilty on 2 March 1978 and refused leave to appeal by Rand Supreme court and later by Appeal court in Bloemfontein. When the judge announced the guilty verdict, he raised his fist in the air and shouted "Amandla." Solomon was sent to the gallows on 6 April 1979 on the same day that Jan Van Riebeeck arrived in South Africa in 1652. His death was a celebration in honour of Van Riebeeck's memory.
Solomon was posthumously awarded the Order of Mendi for Bravery in Gold in 2005. In commemoration of 37th anniversary of his death, Wits university's Senate house was re-named Solomon Mahlangu house. There are cardinal lessons to be learnt from Solomon's excrutiating narrative.
Firstly, Solomon never left his comrade to the "wolves," he came back looking for him. He sacrificed his education to fight for liberation of black nation. Today's students should appreciate heroic endeavours Solomon made to ensure that their right to education became a reality. In the face of atrocious interrogation tactics, he never sold the struggle - he never placed his personal ambition above of the organisation.
Solomon died for a course of freedom for a black fellow. It's up to the living to ensure that the freedom he fought for is never taken for granted. While university students burn and vandalise varsity property - they dare not forget that for Solomon; varsity remained a distant dream. Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was an epitome of loyal ANC cadreship......Aluta continua
