Lennox Lagu, born Mongameli Johnson Tshali (16 October 1938 7 September 2011) was a commander of
Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...
(ANC). He was a major general in the South African National Defence Force (
SANDF
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) comprises the armed forces of South Africa. The commander of the SANDF is appointed by the President of South Africa from one of the armed services. They are in turn accountable to the Ministe ...
). He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General, and the only general in the history of South African Military to be promoted posthumously. He was a fierce opponent of the
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
government.
Early life
Monganeli Tshali was born in Port Elizabeth on 16 October 1938, and was the eldest child. He did his primary and senior secondary schooling at Upper United Mission School and Newell High School in New Brighton respectively. He decided to join the fight against apartheid at a young age and left Port Elizabeth to join the struggle.
Whilst in exile in Zambia, Tshali met and wed Olipah Tshali until her death in 2002. They had 4 children Sebenzile Tshali, Zamile Tshali, Zuzeka Tshali and Sanele Tshali.
Military career
Tshali joined the ANC and MK in 1961; he served in various capacities until his return to South Africa in 1992. He served as an MK commander in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. He served as the ANC Chief Representative in Mozambique between 1975 and 1983.
In 1967–1968, Tshali was the deputy commander of the Luthuli Contingent which fought alongside Zimbabwean People’s Revolutionary Army (
ZIPRA
Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) was the military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), a Marxist–Leninist political party in Rhodesia. It participated in the Rhodesian Bush War against white minority rule of Rhodes ...
) forces in the Wankie Sipollilo campaign.
In 1994 Tshali was integrated into the SANDF where he obtained the rank of major general and served the South African Army as the leader of Project Juggernaut which dealt with issues of troop discipline.
Awards and decorations
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Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lagu, Lennox
1938 births
2011 deaths
South African Army generals
UMkhonto we Sizwe personnel