Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-05-03

MS SEROKE: Once they sentenced him, how did you feel when they said to him he was going to be hanged and that he was going to be killed?  And it was also said that he was arrested with his partner, but how did you feel when he was the one who ended up being sentenced to death?

MRS MHLANGU: That was very painful, as a parent you know how the heart feels, when you hear that word. We know we are all going to die but we don't know how it will happen, but if you are told that your child is going to be killed it is very very painful as a parent.

MS SEROKE: This charge that was given to him, he was supposed to be sentenced only to five years but the outcome of his case was that he was going to be hanged and they also said that the one who was with him, the one who shot didn't get sentenced because it was said he was mentally disturbed.  How did you feel about this issue?

MRS MHLANGU: It was really painful to me as a parent.  I didn't know who to share this with and what I could do to save my child.  I really didn't have anything to save my child with.

MS SEROKE: As you are here Mama, you have given a statement to this Commission.  What would you like the Commission to do for you?

MRS MHLANGU: I cannot control the Commission, the Commission in its own discretion can decide what it can do for me, I really cannot control the Commission. I really can't say what the Commission must do for me.

MS SEROKE: Thank you Mama, I will pass on to our Father here.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, are there people that would like to ask some questions?

THOMAS MANTHATA: Mama I greet you.  You said that Solomon was arrested with someone else, who was this person?

MRS MHLANGU: Motloung.

THOMAS MANTHATA: From that day were you able to meet Motloung?

MRS MHLANGU: No I haven't seen him, I only saw this child in prison but I didn't see his mother.

THOMAS MANTHATA: The child with you here is that child Solomon's.

MRS MHLANGU: No this is not his child, it is his sister's.

THOMAS MANTHATA: Thank you.

DR RANDERA: Mama I can see that this is very painful for you so I won't keep you long.  I first of all just want to ask you, how many children do you have?

MRS MHLANGU: My remaining children are four, they are all married. I'm only with my one other son and we are not working.

DR RANDERA: My last question is that you must have been one of the last people to see Solomon before he was hanged.  Did he share anything with you before this period?

MRS MHLANGU: When I went to see him, it was on a Thursday, on Friday I was going to Jo'burg.  They said I would go with Bishop to go and make an appeal in Cape Town to the superiors who were handling the case, but then I couldn't go
only Bishop went there, and he said to me,
"Mama, thank you for having been strong to come and visit me and not cry. But where my blood will drop so many Solomons will grow up because I am innocent".

RUSSELL ALLY: What did it mean to you when the ANC actually named their school after Solomon?

MRS MHLANGU: The P A people, are you talking about that? Those are the ones who were in the school after Solomon, they took me there in another school.  I just heard from hearsay that there was such a school that was outside.  When I wanted to go there there was nobody to accompany me.  They said to me that they will come and fetch me but they didn't.

RUSSELL ALLY: Do you think that if the Commission were to make those kinds of recommendations that in memory of people who died that schools should be named after them or monuments or parks, does that help in any way, does that make a difference?

MRS MHLANGU: I don't know how that can help me but at least it will be their memory, they will never be forgotten, we'll always remember what they have done.

CHAIRPERSON: Mama, thank you so much for having sacrificed yourself and sacrificing your son as well.  We pray that God may console you and console other people, thank you very much.