Anti-Apartheid Martyrs Postmously Awarded Freedom Of The City.


By Phumzile Mavimbela

 The City of Johannesburg conferred the Freedom of the City on James Sofasonke Mpanza, Rebecca Kotane and Bheki Mlangeni posthumously on Wednesday, 29 September 2021. They received the category one award, which is recognised as the highest honour that the Council can confer to an individual or group. The occasion was charged with freedom songs and deep reflections on the contributions played by the freedom fighters.

The Speaker of Council, Cllr Nonceba Molwele, said the City has since 1996 bestowing the Freedom of the City to outstanding individuals like the late Walter Sisulu, former president Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo, Beyers Naude, Sophie de Bruyn, Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa.

“Today, we are honouring great men and women of our time. Heroes and heroines who contributed immensely to South Africa as we know it. We are honoured to bestow the highest order to the Freedom of the City award to Kotane, Mlangeni and Mpanza,” said Cllr Molwele.

She described Kotane as coming “from a selfless and brave generation of women”, who were at the forefront of the 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings. Mpaza was better known as a crusader of better housing for blacks in Johannesburg. Mlangeni was a human rights lawyer who worked tirelessly to expose the existence of a secret police unit based at Vlakplaas – which carried out hits on anti-apartheid activists.

Accepting the Freedom of City Award on behalf of her late husband, Seipati Mlangeni urged councillors to live up to her husband’s principles, in carrying out service delivery mandate. “Bheki died on the eve of freedom. He was looking forward to it. He was talking about it. Please don’t disappoint us as councillors. Today I’m humbled. We are honoured as the family.”

Gideon Mpaza, the grandchild of the late struggle stalwart, thanked the late Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoff Makhubo, for having begun the groundwork of ensuring that their grandfather was finally recognised.

Ambassador Samuel Kotane, the son of the late Rebecca Kotane, when accepting the award on behalf of the family, said he believed “she is with us in spirit today.”
The Chief Whip of Council, Cllr Solly Mogase, said it had been a difficult journey to finally bestow the Freedom of the City on the three families.

“It is of importance that this day has come. When this day was decided, it was as a result of Council resolution. It has been a difficult journey. We have lost a number of our leaders. In remembrance of our two late mayors, we know they are with us in spirit. They wanted this day to come,” said Cllr Mogase. 

Article Tags

Seipati Mlangeni

City of Johannesburg

James Sofasonke Mpanza

Cancel

    Most Read