![Buti Manamela laying a wreath at Mamelodi West Cemetery during the commemoration of Mahlangu's birthday in 2017. [File Image]](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SABC-News-Solomon-Mahlangu-GCIS-750x423.jpg)
The coordinator in the office of the African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has called on the youth of today to forever cherish the role played by struggle icon, Solomon Mahlangu.
Wednesday marks 43 years since the brutal death of Mahlangu, who was hanged at the then Pretoria Central Prison in 1979.
His last words were: “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.”
Ramokgopa says the youth must know that the fight against Apartheid saw people lose their lives and it must not be taken for granted. She urged young people to do everything in their power to ensure that economic emancipation is realised in South Africa.
ANC leaders have been laying wreaths on the grave of the late struggle icon in Mamelodi as a sign of respect.
Mahlangu lies there, having died a young man, aged 23, at the hands of the Apartheid regime.
ANC leaders say it is about time society intensified efforts to ensure that the legacies left behind by the likes of Mahlangu live on.
ANC Youth League’s Nonceba Mhlawuli says that more still needs to be done.
The family wants the case re-opened and for an inquest to be held to find out more about the circumstances that led to the brutal death of Mahlangu.
Family spokesperson, Prince George Mahlangu says for them to find closure, more light must be shared on what led to Mahlangu’s death.
“As the family, we would like to re-open the case of Kalushi. So that the whole country can know the truth. Because often the story is not told in its fullest context. So as the family, we intend to re-open the case so that it can be retried so that we can have closure in that regard,” Mahlangu says.
In his last days, Mahlangu appealed to the ANC not to drop the ball and to make sure that the struggle for emancipation continued for generations to come.
VIDEO: ANC commemorates the life of struggle icon Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu:
