AN OLD SOLDIER IS DANCING IN HEAVEN TONIGHT

Everson Luhanga

Simon Mashwe Mhlanga, one of the last surviving black South Africans who fought in the Second World War, has died at the age of 103.

Simon was a mentor to dozens of children and a practitioner of traditional medicine who healed members of his community, especially those facing marital problems.

He was one of the very few remaining service members who fought for South Africa on the side of the Allies against the Nazis.

He had boundless energy, when we visited in September 2020 soon after he turned 101 years old.

I expected to meet a frail man unsteady on his feet and hard of hearing.

But I met someone who could not only remember everything that happened during the war but who had strong moves on the dance floor and who I struggled to keep up with.

He greeted me with a song in his mouth and a dance on his feet.

His energy was overflowing. His house was warm and friendly.

He took me into his indumba and showed me different muthi to heal different illnesses.

But something kept bothering me.

Whenever he spoke about his life in the war, he seemed hurt and unhappy by the treatment he had received from his superiors.

He told me that the black soldiers who returned from the war in 1945 hoped that the government would help them like they had helped white soldiers.

“I came back from the war with nothing,” he said.  “Just like everyone else that I know, I was given a bicycle and less than R200 in cash. That was all.”

He added that the next time he received money from the government was when he started receiving his old age Sassa grant.

“I wasn’t treated like someone who had risked his life for the nation. It broke my heart but I had to be strong and rebuild myself from nothing.”

Simon told me how after he returned from the war, he was homeless and used to sleep in a community hall.

But Madala Simon Mhlanga was man enough to put all that behind him and become actively involved in community development. He formed sports groups for the youth in his community and a troupe of drum majorettes.

He healed many people with different illnesses. Young men experiencing troubles in the bedroom would come to him.

He said he restored broken marriages that were in danger of ending because of a lack of action between the sheets. His magic medicines restored conjugal activity and those couples were much happier and left with broad grins after their visits to his indumba.

He showed me the potent medicine that kept many marriages bonded.

He offered me muthi that would bring steam under the sheets at home.

As a married man, I gladly accepted. Who would decline such an opportunity? He gave me some powder to mix with my coffee at home – but I won’t tell you whether it worked or not.

Before I wrapped up our interview, Simon took to the dance floor and I challenged him. But he gave me no chance as he beat me at the game.

His death will not only affect the people he was close to, but even I who met him once could tell that he was a great spirit.

World War II ended 77 years ago. The generation that fought in that war – in which many millions of people died – is all but gone.

One of the last of its old soldiers will be laid to rest this Saturday in Soweto.

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