Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu

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Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu (born July 10, 1956 in Pretoria ; † April 6, 1979 ibid) was a South African anti-apartheid fighter and member of the Umkhonto we Sizwe . He was sentenced to death by hanging in 1978 and hanged in 1979 . The execution of the death penalty sparked international protests.

Life

Mahlangu grew up with his mother, a domestic worker, in Mamelodi after the father left the family in 1962. He attended high school there , which he was unable to finish because the school was closed due to unrest . Up to the age of 17 he was apolitical, it was not until the uprising in Soweto that Mahlangu joined the African National Congress (ANC) and the protests. Soon afterwards he went into exile in Mozambique , where he was trained as a fighter by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). In 1977 he and ten other members of the MK were sent back to South Africa via Swaziland with weapons and leaflets ; their destination was Johannesburg .

Trial and verdict

After arriving in Johannesburg on June 13, 1977, Mahlangu and his companions were provoked by police on the street, Mahlangu and Mondy Johannes Motloung were arrested. In the subsequent shooting, two bystanders were killed and two others were wounded. At the beginning of the trial, Mahlangu declared himself innocent; the presiding judge acknowledged that he was not guilty of the deaths of the civilians, but was charged with murder . Motloung suffered traumatic brain injury from ill-treatment while in detention and was unable to stand trial; he had fired the fatal shots. Mahlangu was sentenced to death by hanging for murder and various terrorism law offenses. The verdict sparked international protests. In addition to the United Nations Security Council , the Organization for African Unity , European Governments and Jimmy Carter stand up for the life of Mahlangu. He was hanged on April 6, 1979 at 6 a.m.

Mahlangu was buried in Atteridgeville for fear of rioting . On April 6, 1993, the body was reburied in the Mamelodi cemetery. A plaque was placed on the grave with his last words:

“My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people that I love them. You have to continue the fight ( My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people that I love them. They must continue the fight ) "

Honors

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Mahlangu, Solomon Kalushi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mahlangu, Solly
BRIEF DESCRIPTION South African anti-apartheid fighter and member of Umkhonto we Sizwe
DATE OF BIRTH July 10, 1956
PLACE OF BIRTH Pretoria
DATE OF DEATH April 6, 1979
Place of death Pretoria