Youth should lead in honour of Solomon Mahlangu
‘Let the youth learn from all aspects of Kalushi’s valiant life and times’
DEPUTY Minister for Planning and Monitoring in the Presidency Buti Manamela has called on young people to help lead the struggle for socio-economic transformation.
Manamela was speaking yesterday at the martyr Solomon Mahlangu’s birthday commemoration in Mamelodi.
Mahlangu, popularly known as “Kalushi”, would have turned 61 yesterday.
He was hanged under apartheid in 1979 after being convicted of murder in March 1978, following an Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) mission. A guerrilla, he was 23 years old.
Manamela said the youth should emulate Mahlangu because he strove to better conditions for future generations.
“We must be established young entrepreneurs, we must create black industrialists. It’s not sustainable in any country that the majority is not part of the mainstream economy, it’s an unsustainable situation,” he said.
He told attendees, including members of the SRC of Wits University and the Congress of SA Students, that they must be in the forefront of the struggle for economic emancipation, education and equality.
Deputy Minister of Communications Thandi Mahambehlala, Deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga and Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla were also at the commemoration.
Makwetla insisted that the least the youth should do is to honour “that brave generation of youthful martyrs”.
“Your personal development is exactly what the young Solomon Mahlangu had in mind. He said: ‘My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom. Tell my people that I love them and they must continue to fight’,” Makwetla said.
He also told young people to take advantage of opportunities that are presented by the government and to use education to continue fighting injustice.
Echoing Makwetla’s sentiments was the secretary-general of Cosas, Khulekani Skosana, who emphasised the importance of school and entrepreneurship, adding that Mahlangu had been interested in education and business.
“Comrade Mahlangu sold vegetables to support his family. He had the spirit of entrepreneurship apart from being a freedom fighter. Let us learn from the comrade in all aspects of life. We must be owners of production and not just slave away,” he said.
The birthday celebration commenced with a laying of wreaths at the Mamelodi West cemetery followed by a formal programme at Mahlangu’s home in Mamelodi where speeches were made.
Afterwards, attendees were transported to Nu Metro Cinema at Menlyn Mall for a screening of Kalushi, a movie on the life story of the executed political activist.
The Mahlangu family, represented by Mtungwa Mahlangu, thanked the governing party for its continued commitment towards ensuring that Kalushi’s sacrifices are an integral part of the history of South Africa’s liberation Struggle.