Solomon Mahlangu’s home to be declared a heritage site
The home of liberation struggle icon Solomon Mahlangu will soon be declared a heritage site.
The development was announced in Mamelodi West on Wednesday by the CEO of the National Heritage Council (NHC), Sonwabile Mancotywa, during the launch of plans for the commemoration of 40 years since Mahlangu’s death. Mahlangu, a former ANC military wing combatant, was executed in 1979.
Mancotywa revealed that the NHC had received a request from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and upon scrutiny, the house had met all the requirements.
This house, in which Solomon Mahlangu was born, has been graded category one in accordance with the National Heritage Resources Act.
This process has been successfully completed by our sister organisation, the South African Heritage Resources Agency.
The property was inspected, and it was found to meet the requirements. It is now intended to be declared as a national heritage site,” he said.
Heritage, Mancotywa said, plays a huge role in the education of young people and needs to be preserved
NYDA chairperson Sifiso Mtshweni said it is important for the contribution of youth of the liberation struggle be recognised and the agency aims to do just this.
The NYDA has already honoured Mahlangu with a scholarship named after the struggle stalwart.
“Solomon Mahlangu was quite passionate about education. He wanted to be a teacher. He wanted to improve the lives of young people in this country. That is why we have a scholarship named after him,” said Mtshweni.
The Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu Scholarship Fund (SKMSF) was established in 2014 and has since its formation funded the education of over 500 students in various fields of study.
In line with government’s announcement of fee-free higher education for students from households with an annual income lower than R300 000, the NYDA will now direct most of its funds to postgraduate students.
As part of the 40th commemoration of Mahlangu’s death, the NYDA will on Friday celebrate the success of this scholarship at a gala dinner and showcase some of the most outstanding and high performance beneficiaries.
On Saturday, 6 April, government will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at his grave and later retrace Mahlangu’s final footsteps before he was killed by hanging at the Pretoria Central Prison.
Department of Arts and Culture Director-General Vusi Mkhize said it was important for Mahlangu’s legacy to be maintained.
Family spokesperson Prince George Mahlangu thanked government for taking the initiative to honour his brother.
“It is important that we do this not only in his memory but in the memory of all those gallant fighters who fought alongside him; those who perished and those who are still living,” he said.
Source: eNCA
