Today it is the 39th anniversary of the commemoration of the execution of 22-year-old Umkhonto we Sizwe combatant, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu.

He was born July 10, 1956. He is originally from Mpumalanga although, he grew up in Pretoria. He was the second son of Martha Mahlangu.
His father left him in 1962, and from then on only saw him infrequently.

His mother was a domestic worker and took sole responsibility for his upbringing. He attended Mamelodi High School up to Standard 8, but did not complete his schooling as a result of the school’s closure due to ongoing riots.

He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in September 1976, and left the country to be trained as an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) soldier.
The training was received in Angola and Mozambique and on June 11, 1977 he returned to South Africa as a cadre, heavily armed, through Swaziland to assist with student protests.
On June 13, 1977, Mahlangu and his companions, Mondy Johannes Motloung and George “Lucky” Mahlangu, were accosted by police in Goch Street, Johannesburg. “Lucky” Mahlangu managed to escape, however, in the ensuing gun battle two civilian men were killed and two wounded. Solomon and Motloung were arrested.
Solomon was tried from November 7, 1977 to March 1, 1978 for charges associated with the attacks in Goch Street in June 1977.
He was therefore charged with two counts of murder and several charges under the Terrorism Act. Mahlangu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His council stated that he entered South Africa in June 1977 as part of a group of ten, bringing arms, ammunition, explosives and ANC pamphlets into the country.

The judge accepted that Motloung was responsible for the actual killings, but since he had been so brutally beaten during the course of his capture, he had suffered severe brain damage and was unfit to stand trial. However, as common purpose had been formed, Solomon was therefore found guilty.
He was sentenced to death by hanging on March 2, 1978.

On June 15, 1978 Solomon Mahlangu was refused leave to appeal his sentence by the Rand Supreme Court, and on July 24, 1978 he was refused again in the Bloemfontein Appeal Court.

Although various governments, the United Nations, international organisations, groups and prominent individuals attempted to intercede on his behalf, Mahlangu awaited his execution in Pretoria Central Prison, and died on April 6, 1979.

The execution provoked international protest and condemnation of South Africa’s internal policy. In fear of crowd reaction at the funeral the police decided to bury Mahlangu in Atteridgeville.

On April 6, 1993 he was reinterred at the Mamelodi Cemetery.

Sources: South African History Online (https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/solomon-kalushi-mahlangu)