Johannesburg,South Africa

Forty-five years later the legacy of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu a freedom fighter which was sentenced to death by apartheid government is still celebrated as hero amongst South Africans.

Mahlangu was hanged to death at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre(formerly known as a Pretoria Central Prison) while he was only 22-years-old at the time his death on Friday,06 April 1979.

The apartheid government under the regime of Botha and Vorster ignored international community which was demanding impunity towards Mahlangu's conviction.

On 5 April 1979,the United Nations Security Council convened on a emergency meeting which was aimed to stop an apartheid regime for killing a young South African freedom fighter,however,that regime continued with its planned execution.

Mahlangu has been described as one of the fearless freedom fighters this country as ever had which remained steadfast in his belief for the liberation of South Africa.

His last words he said in the courtroom before his death made a lasting reflection of real freedom fighter which loved his people unconditionally.

"My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom.Tell my people that I love them.They must continue the fight.Aluta Continua,"said Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu in 1979 before he was hanged to death.

He was born on 10 July 1956 in Mamelodi,Pretoria,he was raised by his mother Martha Mahlangu who was working as a domestic worker,and his father abandoned them while he was only five-years-old in 1962.

Mahlangu's involvement in the liberation struggle

He joined the African National Congress(ANC) and its armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1976,and in that year he went to Mozambique to join his comrades for military training and spent six months in a refugee camp near Xai Xai.

His seniors took him from Xai Xai to a training camp which was known as 'Engineering' in Angola,and there he was received trainings in military combat,sabotage,scouting and politics.

He returned to South Africa on 11 June 1977 in company of George 'Lucky' Mahlangu and Mondy Motloung,upon entering the country from Swaziland they headed to Johannesburg and they were in possession of suitcases filled with pamphlets,rifles and grenades.

Upon arrival in Johannesburg,Mahlangu and his two comrades encountered a policeman that obstructed them after being suspicious of their luggages and that led to their arrest after a fierce battle with the police and two civilians were killed and one injured.

Mahlangu's arrest,trial and sentence

Mahlangu's trial started in the Supreme Court on 7 November 1977 where he faced two counts of murder,two counts of attempted murder and a string of charges under the Terrorism Act.

Mahlangu was found guilty in all charges and the court refused him a leave to appeal and the court did not care about proving that who shot and killed those civilians.

Mahlangu's legacy is alive

Mahlangu has been honoured by his people for his involvement in the liberation struggle which bore a new democratic South Africa which is against racial segregation and inequality.

In his hometown in Mamelodi,he is commemorated in the place called Solomon Mahlangu Freedom Square and the bronze statue of him is erected there.

Various places around the country and outside of the country are named after him starting from streets to buildings,and there is a film called Kalusi which was released in 2016 that profiled his life.