Solomon Mahlangu was executed on this day in 1979 even though the court knew he was not responsible for the killings on Goch Street on 13 June 1977. His death took place on what was called Van Riebeeck Day, which marked the official arrival of the VOC on 6 April 1652. 
Mahlangu joined MK after the riots that broke out in response and solidarity with the learners of Soweto. The ANC used June 16 as a rallying call to the military training camps and young people responded in their numbers. Mahlangu was among them. He left in September that year.
He would return the following year on 11 June 1977 coming into South African soil through Eswatini, having received training in Angola and in Mozambique. He was with 2 others, Monty Motloung and George Mahlangu. They were intercepted on 13 June while on their way to Soweto.
Motloung fired shots killing two civilians, George managed to escape arrest. And the rest is history. Motloung was so badly beaten that he could not stand trial so common purpose was applied which meant Mahlangu was made responsible for what happened on 13 June.
Mahlangu appealed the death sentence handed down to him on 2 March 1978 by CDJ Theron: first to the Rand Supreme Court which was presided over by Ramon Leon (for those who wanted clarity on Mr Leon Senior). He refused; then to the Appellate division in Bloem which also refused.
Priscilla Jana was Mahlangu's lawyer to whom he said his last words: "Tell my people that I love them. They must continue the fight. My blood will nourish the tree that bears the fruits of freedom.”
Solomon would be celebrating his 65th birthday on 10 July.
Dates in this country are very important. They are used to wage wars. 6 April 1652 was an important day to the apartheid regime. In 1952, Cape African Teachers Association was at the forefront of boycotts against the 300 year celebrations in 1952.
Phyllis Ntantala Jordan who was among those at the forefront and wrote "Isikrweqe nekhakha" which was a translated text of Tabby Tabata's Boycott As a Weapon of Struggle which was circulated throughout the Cape province and used to mobilize people against the celebrations.
"Tabby" (real name Bangani Tabata) was a writer and trotskyist involved in the Non-European Unity Movement. When we trace the roots of the Defiance Campaign we should reflect on the role movements like NEUM played in setting things in motion. The 1952 celebrations flopped.
We also know the PAC was founded on this day in 1959 as a way of reclaiming this day, reclaiming the dignity lost for more than 3 centuries.
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