Anti-apartheid hero Mlangeni honoured
‘Soldier of conscience’ put people first – widow
A portrait of Struggle icon Bheki Mlangeni which overlooks a park named after him in Jabulani, Soweto, was yesterday described as a fitting tribute to a selfless leader who put the needs of his people before his own.
Mlangeni’s portrait in honour of his contributions to the Struggle was unveiled 27 years after he was killed by the apartheid government. He died on February 15 1991.
Mlangeni’s widow, Seipati, said the tribute was befitting as her husband had thought about other people even when he was in police custody.
“He shared his love with the community. He was in custody in 1986 and I was pregnant at the time.
“He wrote me a letter and assured me that everything would be okay.
“He also said in the letter: ‘I am a soldier of conscience who understands the pain and misery my people go through’.”
She said her husband had never pointed fingers and had strived to educate others.
She called on ANC members to look back and learn from the mistakes that had been made.
“We cannot allow our leaders to let us down. The masses should know that it is not about them but the organisation,” she said.
Mlangeni was an ANC community leader and was also involved in investigating the apartheid-era hit squads that were killing anti-apartheid activists.
He studied law at Wits University.
He was sent a booby-trapped parcel containing an audio tape and headphones in 1991.
He put on the headphones to listen to the tape and was blown up.
He died instantly. Yesterday’s event was organised by the Bheki Mlangeni Foundation and funded by the Inkanyeni Mkululeko Foundation.
Mlangeni’s brother Thabang said the family was still struggling to accept how he had died.
“Like yesterday I was going through pain. It will take us about a week to recover and then look forward to his birthday party.
“There are two painful days for us as a family, the day he died and his birthday. We get support from people who walked the same path as him,” he said.
Thabang said the family stood up for the legacy of their brother.
“We fought for him to be recognised,” he said.
The Strategic Dialogue Group’s Billy Ramokgopa said icons such as Mlangeni, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo would turn in their graves if the ANC lost the power they had fought for.
He said greedy and selfserving party members should be rooted out.