Solomon Mahlangu’s family wants his case reopened
‘We want the whole country and world to get to know the true story of Solomon Mahlangu and that is what is going to be revealed once the case has been reopened.’
The family of the late struggle stalwart Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu are seeking justice and want his case to be reopened and tried again.
The family announced during the commemoration of the life and times of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu led by the ANC on Tuesday.
Family spokesperson Prince George Mahlangu said they want the whole country and world to know the true story of Solomon Mahlangu and that was what would be revealed once the case is reopened.
Mahlangu was born in Pretoria on 10 July 1956, and attended Mamelodi High School to grade 10 when the school closed due to ongoing riots.
He joined the ANC in September 1976, and left the country to train as an Umkhonto we Sizwe soldier.
He returned a year later with Lucky Mahlangu (no relation) and Johannes Motloung, to deliver weapons to ANC operatives in the country.
They were spotted in Goch Street in Johannesburg and accosted by the police and a gun battle ensued. Two people were killed and three civilians injured.
In the chaos, Lucky escaped, while Motloung and Solomon were arrested.
They were charged with murder and treason under the terrorism act.
It was determined that Motloung had been responsible for the deaths, but he suffered a brain injury during interrogation and was declared unfit for trial.
Mahlangu was convicted on the common purpose doctrine and sentenced to death by hanging on 2 March 1978. He was executed on 6 April 1979.
Out of fear of crowd violence at his funeral, he was buried in secret in Atteridgeville.
His remains were exhumed in 1993 and reburied in his hometown of Mamelodi on 6 April – the date of his death, 14 years earlier.
The commemoration included a visit to the Kgoši Mampuru correctional centre in Tshwane to observe the 52 symbolic steps to the gallows, as well as wreath-laying at Solomon Mahlangu’s gravesite at Mamelodi West cemetery.
The event was attended by family members, traditional leaders, ANC youth, community and ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and treasurer-general Paul Mashatile.
Prince Mahlangu said we would like the case to be reopened, “so that all the information that is at our disposal can come out”.
The family said it was proper that this information was revealed in that type of inquest so that the whole country knows.
“You will know that many people who worked in the gallows (prison warders) were sworn to secrecy so that they don’t reveal the information,” said Mahlangu.
“This information must come to the fore and we have strong reasons to say what we are saying. Therefore, we want to reveal information in a properly set-up inquest to at again Kalushi’s case,” he said.
Mahlangu said that the case would be reopened and they were waiting for the legal process to be finalised for the case to be reopened.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said on the 6 April 1979, 42 years ago, “this brave and fearless young soldier of the people’s army, Umkhonto we Sizwe, was hanged by the heartless apartheid regime, the youngest person (22) to be hanged for a political offence.”
He said like many young people of his generation, Solomon skipped the country in 1976 to join the ANC.
“Solomon Mahlangu continues to be an inspiration to the young lions of the 1980s and to the current generation of activists. He remains an example of sacrifice, discipline and refusal to succumb to the enemy.”
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