HAMBA KAHLE SOLOMON MAHLANGU
On March 2, 1978, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was sentenced to death. He had pleaded ‘not guilty’ and as the death sentence was passed, he raised his clenched fist and shouted the ANC (African National Congress) slogan ‘Amandla’.
Since then, he has spent more than a year in a death cell at Pretoria Central Prison; he was not allowed visits other than from his family and a minister of religion appointed by the state; he was not allowed reading material from outside but was supplied with novels and a bible by the prison.
Even before the death sentence was passed, Solomon did not have a fair trial. Since his arrest in June 1977, he was severely tortured and brutally assaulted in the prisons. He was not allowed to be seen by any member of the community including his lawyers. He did not even know that he was being legally represented, and the attorneys first heard of his court appearance after reading a report about it in the press. After months of torture his friend and comrade Mondy Motloung was declared unfit to stand trial due to brain damage.
On April 6, 1979, Solomon Mahlangu was executed. He went to the gallows courageously and confidently. He was aware that the black people of South Africa – whom he loved and served – were behind him and indeed the whole of progressive humanity supported him.
Solomon was murdered but his spirit – like that of Mini, Khayinga, Mkhaba and others – is not dead. His blood will nourish the
