Johnathan Paoli
Unisa conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences (Honoris Causa) posthumously on freedom fighter and anti-apartheid activist Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu last week.
Acting Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences, Prof Zethu Nkosi, acknowledged Mahlangu’s dedicated struggle against apartheid, his participation in the Soweto uprising, his selflessness and commitment to the pursuit of justice.
Mahlangu’s family representative and older brother, Chief Lucas Mahlangu, received the degree.
Chief Mahlangu said the family appreciated and thanked every peace-loving South African for showing the Mahlangu family that the nation cares and appreciates what Solomon Mahlangu did for the country when he gave his life for its liberation.
“On behalf of the family, I thank Unisa and everybody who made it possible for my younger brother to earn this degree posthumously,” he said.
Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was a South African freedom fighter, struggle activist and operative of the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
After the 16 June 1976 Soweto Uprisings, Mahlangu left the country and received military training in Zambia, Tanzania and Angola, and was appointed as the commander of the detachment, which was deployed back to South Africa to lead the commemoration of the first anniversary of the 1976 uprising.
Mahlangu was arrested by the security police in 1977 and tried under the Terrorism Act, and was executed on 6 April 1979 at the then Pretoria Central Prison (now Kgoshi Mampuru Prison).
Nkosi said Mahlangu’s defiant battle cry as he walked to the gallows, “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!”, became one of the motivational and rallying calls of the liberation struggle.
Previously, the ANC established the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) in Mazimbu, Tanzania, in 1978, while the Solomon Mahlangu Square in Mamelodi, Pretoria, was dedicated to his memory in 1993.
In addition, the University of the Witwatersrand renamed its Senate House to Solomon Mahlangu House in 2016 following the #FeesMustFall protests.
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