Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was a South African freedom fighter, struggle activist and operative of the African National Congress militant wing, uMkhonto weSizwe.
16 Facts About Solomon Mahlangu
1.
2.
Solomon Mahlangu was convicted for his part in the murder of two people and hanged in 1979.
3.
Solomon Mahlangu was primarily raised by his mother, Martha Mahlangu who worked as a domestic worker, as his father largely abandoned the family in 1962.
4.
Solomon Mahlangu was in Standard 8 during the 1976 Soweto uprisings of student-led protests against Bantu Education.
5.
In 1976 Solomon Mahlangu flew to Mozambique and spent six months in a refugee camp near Xai Xai.
6.
Solomon Mahlangu was part of a group of MK trainees called the "June 16 Detachment" due to their involvement in the 1976 student protests.
7.
Solomon Mahlangu joined a unit of ten men at Funda Camp who received training in sabotage, military combat, scouting and politics.
Related searches
John Vorster 8.
Solomon Mahlangu was shot in the ankle and the pair fled into a nearby warehouse.
9.
Solomon Mahlangu's trial started in the Supreme Court on 7 November 1977.
10.
Solomon Mahlangu faced two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and various counts of sabotage under the Terrorism Act of 1967.
11.
Solomon Mahlangu was convicted on all counts, while Motaung had been so severely beaten by police while in detention that he suffered brain injuries and was declared unfit to stand trial.
12.
The court found that Solomon Mahlangu had failed to do so, and consequently handed down the death sentence.
13.
Solomon Mahlangu's mother testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that she had been unaware of her son's interest in politics and had not been told of his decision to leave the country for military training, only receiving a message to tell her to not look for her son.
14.
Solomon Mahlangu later visited him in detention at John Vorster Square.
15.
Solomon Mahlangu is commemorated in the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom Square in his hometown of Mamelodi, Pretoria.
16.
The square is focused on a bronze statue of Solomon Mahlangu wearing MK camouflage and incorporating children's depictions of "fruits of freedom".