KWAMHLANGA – Thembisile Hani Local Municipality honoured struggle icon Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu with a 10km commemorative race held from Kwaggafontein Stadium to Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga on Saturday, 3 October.
Hosted in partnership with Nkangala District Municipality Speaker and ANC Nkangala Region chairperson Cllr Jonas Boshomane and Mkobola Athletics Club, the race attracted participants from as far as Venda, Ermelo and Gauteng.
Thembisile Hani Executive Mayor Cllr Lesetja Dikgale also took part in the race.
Speaking to Highveld Chronicle, Boshomane said his participation was both personal and political.
“Well, I am an athlete myself but given that it is a race to pay tribute to one of our struggle icons, a soldier and combatant of Umkhonto we Sizwe who was brutally hanged by the apartheid regime, it was a must attend event. Secondly, to give support to Thembisile Hani Municipality and Mkobola Athletics Club and promote sport as a way of life in our locality for healthy living,” Boshomane said.
He commended the municipality and Mkobola Athletics Club for using sport to promote community development.
“Thembisile Hani and Mkobola Athletics Club have embarked on a key initiative of community development and emancipation through sport and for that they require both our physical and moral support to enhance this milestone given that the race has been ongoing for some time now,” Boshomane said.
Participating athlete Lilian Maseko described the race as an emotional experience.
“Being part of this marathon is very emotional because this is our way of commemorating our struggle fighter, our soldier Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu. He fought a long race fighting for this country. However, with whatever is happening now in our country, it shows that his fight along with other freedom fighters was not enough. So it is in our hands to fight this fight,” Maseko said.
She said the race also highlighted challenges facing communities, including substance abuse, poor education and unemployment.
“Our children are scattered in drugs, we have a poor education system, unemployment is drastic. Therefore this is not just a run, this is not just a race, but it is our way of showing gratitude and commemorating our soldiers and making sure that we will keep their struggle alive, we will keep their promises alive and continue to fight for our beautiful country,” she said.
Beyond the race, the event served as a call to restore Ubuntu, human dignity and collective responsibility.
Participants highlighted the need to address unemployment, substance abuse, gender-based violence and other socio-economic challenges affecting communities.
Through the event, the municipality and its partners aim to use sport to promote social cohesion, nation-building and the renewal of values associated with Mahlangu and other struggle martyrs.
