Salomon Malhangu

Background

Mahlangu was born in Pretoria on 10 July in 1956. The second son of Martha Mahlangu, his father left in 1962 and as a result he was raised by his mother, a domestic worker

Education

He attended Mamelodi High School up to Standard 8, but did not complete his schooling due to the many riots that resulted in school closures.

Career

Convicted of murder by the then-apartheid administration, Mahlangu was hanged in 1979. Mahlangu never participated in the 16 June 1976 Soweto uprising though he joined the African National Congress in September 1976. He then left the country to be trained as an Umkhonto we Sizwe operative in Angola and Mozambique and on 11 June 1977 he returned to South Africa through Swaziland.

Although “Lucky” Mahlangu managed to escape, in the ensuing gun battle four civilians were hit by stray rounds.

Solomon Mahlangu and Motloung were arrested, tried, and hanged after two years. Before going to the gallows he is noted to have said: "Tell my people that I love them and that they must continue the fight, my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom, Aluta continua.".

Connections

Friend:

Mondy Johannes Motloung