Salomon Malhangu

Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu (10 July 1956 – 6 April 1979) was a South African freedom fighter, struggle activist and operative of the African National Congress (ANC) militant wing, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK). He was convicted for his part in the murder of two people and hanged in 1979.

Early years

Mahlangu was born on 10 July 1956. Although often said to have been born in Pretoria, a Mahlangu family spokesperson later corrected his birthplace to Doornkop in Mpumalanga.

Mahlangu attended Mamelodi High School up to Standard 9.

On 13 June 1977, the three men, each carrying a large suitcase, were at the taxi rank in central Johannesburg on their way to Soweto when a policeman became suspicious and grabbed one of the suitcases. An AK-47 assault rifle and hand grenade fell out. All three men attempted to flee the area and escape the policemen. Solomon Mahlangu and Motaung unknowingly fled in the direction of the police station in John Vorster Square. Mahlangu was shot in the ankle and the pair fled into a nearby warehouse. In the ensuing confusion, Motaung shot and killed two warehouse employees, Rupert Kessner and Kenneth Wolfendale, and wounded another two people. Mahlangu and Motaung were arrested while George 'Lucky' Mahlangu evaded capture.

Trial and sentence Mahlangu's trial started in the Supreme Court on 7 November 1977. His defence team included Ismail Mohamed, S.C., Clifford Mailer and Priscilla Jana. Mahlangu faced two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and various counts of sabotage under the Terrorism Act of 1967.

Although Mahlangu had not fired the shots that killed two civilians, the court found that Mahlangu and Motaung had acted with a common purpose and that it consequently did not matter which of the two had done the shooting and killing. 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.

In the city of Durban, there was a major arterial road named 'Edwin Swales VC Drive', after a RAF bomber commander who died in 1945. Following proposals made by the eThekwini Municipality, the road was changed to honour Mahlangu.

A main arterial road that runs from AFB Waterkloof in Pretoria up to Solomon Mahlangu's hometown of Mamelodi (the M10 road) was renamed from Hans Strijdom Drive to Solomon Mahlangu Drive in 2012.

In 2016, the main administrative building at the University of the Witwatersrand, formerly known as Senate House, was renamed Solomon Mahlangu House.

The 2016 film Kalushi chronicles his life and times, where Thabo Rametsi played the role of Solomon.

In Tanzania, one of the top universities, Sokoine University of Agriculture, in the east region of Morogoro is known as Solomon Mahlangu Campus.

During the #FeesMustFall protests, "Solomon" was a key song recited by student activists on campuses across the country. This is a reference to Mahlangu's involvement in the anti-Apartheid struggle as a young person, his legacy and what he means to the youth of today.

In 2019, Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth renamed one of their residences after him.

In 2022, Rhodes University in Makhanda renamed "Jan Smuts Hall", the largest residence on campus, to Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu Hall. During the same occasion they also renamed a second residence, Hilltop Hall, Hugh Masekela Hall to honour the South African musician.

The Transvaal Scottish Regiment was renamed the Solomon Mahlangu Regiment.