Family, comrades remember Mahlangu and his final 52 steps
IF SOLOMON “Kalushi” Mahlangu was a minister and recalled by the president, he would never have thought he was above the law or that his re-deployment meant there was a crisis in the country.
This was the view of the family of the Struggle icon as the 38th anniversary of his death was commemorated in Pretoria yesterday.
The commemoration started at the Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Facility, where family as well as government and Congress of South African Students representatives visited the gallows, where Mahlangu was hanged on April 6, 1979.
Visitors walked from the chapel, where families were allowed to see the coffin of their loved ones who had been executed. They then went up 52 steps to the gallows, past the holding cells, the embalming beds and, finally, the refrigerators.
Gideon Mahlangu, family representative and chairperson of the Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu Family Trust, said despite Solomon’s death having happened many years ago, it remains a painful memory.
“This remains a very painful day for us, but it must also be celebrated to remember the sacrifices made by him and others of his generation which led to the freedom and democracy that everyone enjoys today,” he said.
“The bravery he showed during his prosecution and execution will forever influence the youth of this country to make sure they also play a critical role in the radical economic transformation needed.”
Gideon said Solomon truly believed in economic empowerment, the eradication of poverty and a better life for all African people.
He touched on recent political tensions and urged ANC cadres to take time during the commemoration to remember the character and attitude Solomon showed, despite having only been with the party for nine months.
“Despite the horrendous treatment he received from the apartheid government, he never behaved otherwise,” Gideon said.
“He never said because he was alone in court with his mother and family without ANC comrades, therefore he was seizing the opportunity to sell (out) the people of this country or the revolution.
“He demonstrated discipline and bravery until the very minute he was executed.”
Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla said that despite what South Africa was going through, Mahlangu’s commemoration should remind everyone that the country was not without exemplary leaders.
“If we fail to be selfless in correcting what is wrong, it can only be because we have allowed ourselves to be cowards. (This), when we have many heroes who are examples of what we should be doing in moments like these,” Makwetla said.
“When he went up those 52 steps to the gallows on this morning 38 years ago, he said to his mother ‘tell my people that I love them and that they must continue the Struggle’. I wish everybody could hear that message again today.”
He added that people like Mahlangu made extreme sacrifices because they were moved by the ideal of achieving a country that could attain the highest levels of humanity in all spheres of life, especially for the most unfortunate. “When he said ‘my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom’, he really was inspired in his ideals by the possibility that this country can indeed be the most pleasant place to live in the world,” Makwetla said.
“And if South Africans in public office cannot realise his dream, it would be a very bitter betrayal that we cannot afford.”
The procession then moved to the Mamelodi Cemetery where the remains of Mahlangu and others were buried by the apartheid government. Prayers were said and wreaths laid at his tombstone.
The same was done at the tombstone of Sefako Mapogo Makgatho, the second president of the ANC.
Activities ended with a lecture at the Stanza Bopape Hall in Mamelodi East.