Icons receive special Joburg honour

Mayor Parks Tau addressed a specially convened meeting of the Joburg council in order to bestow the freedom of the city on Andrew Mokete Mlangeni and George Bizos.

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Johannesburg - Struggle activist Andrew Mlangeni, 90, has been hospitalised, but that didn’t stop him conveying a sincere message and honouring his fellow anti-apartheid stalwarts through an acceptance speech when he received the Freedom of Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Mayor Parks Tau addressed a specially convened meeting of the Joburg council at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg in order to bestow the freedom of the city on Andrew Mokete Mlangeni and 87-year-old George Bizos.

Tau said upholding the fundamental rights fought for by anti-apartheid stalwarts would be the best way to honour the two Rivonia trial activists.

“We bestow this honour in recognition of their being among those who made that noble, supremely principled stand at Madiba’s side, confronting the logic of a deeply illegitimate system with profoundly democratic clarity and eloquence - risking the death penalty and persecution to do it,” the mayor said.

The conferment of the freedom of the city on Mlangeni, one of Nelson Mandela’s co-accused in the treason trial, and Bizos, one of the defending lawyers, saw 500 guests, councillors, members of the mayoral committee, party whips and senior managers and staff of the City of Joburg converge on the hall.

The conferment, given the theme “I Took a Stand”, came a week before Freedom Day on Wednesday.

Bizos thanked the council and, while seated, addressed the audience, paying homage to the lawyers of the Struggle.

“I was fortunate to be asked to defend people on what I call justly political trials and I was a friend of Nelson Mandela since 1948.

“What I found so comforting today is that the council decided to honour both Andrew and myself together.”

Mlangeni was not able to attend as he was hospitalised last week, but council Speaker Connie Bapela said he was reportedly recovering well and they would be delivering the signed scroll to him in hospital.

Bizos was joined by Mlangeni’s son Sello Mlangeni for the signing of the scrolls. He delivered a speech written by his father.

“This city stood as a beacon for our Struggle and witnessed the hardships and the sacrifices made by all the revolutionaries of the Struggle.

“The Rivonia trial provided us with a unique platform for our struggle to a world audience. The words of Mandela embodied our moral integrity and dedication, showing the apartheid state we would not waiver,” said Sello.

Mlangeni received life imprisonment along with his seven co-accused and was incarcerated on Robben Island.

The freedom of the city is awarded to those who contributed to the struggle for freedom and democracy.

The City of Joburg has bestowed the freedom of the city on Walter Sisulu, Beyers Naudé, Mandela, Joe Slovo and most recently Ahmed Kathrada. He and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela attended the event.

The Star