Peter Gaolatlhwe “Latlhi” Mabilo was born on 10 December 1965, in Galeshewe Kimberley.  He was the sixth of eight children, born to Solomon Pogisho and Mary “Tunie” Mabilo.

Latlhi attended pre-primary school at the St Boniface Kindergaden. He then proceeded to St. Dominics Lower Primary School, before moving on to St Boniface Higher Primary and St Boniface High School, until Standard 9 (Grade 11), before he left for exile around 1985.

Latlhi's political consciousness was formed at an early stage, in particular during the 1980 School Boycotts against Bantu Education; a time all the schools in Galeshewe were on “fire”, as the entire township was affected by the political events spearheaded by the students.  Houses of Councillors were burnt down while other infrastructure associated with the apartheid system also was targeted by the protestors.

At that time a team of student leaders from Galeshewe High Schools, such as the late Kerel “Tosh” Tlhomelang, Eugene Mokgwasi, Ben Fani, Zakes Hlwatshwayo, Neville Motlhabakwe and many others, moved from school to school to ensure no learning and teaching took place and that students were mobilised to attend student mass meetings and to participate in all the student campaigns.  This planted the seed of political activism in Latlhi and many young students at St Boniface High.

The student leaders at the time took a strategic decision to use St Boniface as a “safe” venue for student mass meetings, because the police needed to obtain permission before they could enter, as it is private property, which was not the case with government high schools, where the police forcefully broke up student mass gatherings without any difficulty.

What further shaped Latlhi’s political understanding was the harsh manner in which the apartheid police brutally assaulted students; using batons, setting police dogs on the protestors and in general the brutal manner in which they dealt with the situation.

Latlhi invested much of his energy in mobilising his fellow students at St Boniface to become politically involved.  He was  one of the founding members of the Galeshewe Student Organisation (Gaso) and the Galeshewe youth Organisation (Gayo) in 1985.

Both of these organisations were affiliated with the to the United Democratic Front (UDF). He also actively participated in the broader campaigns of the UDF such as, Stay-aways, Rent boycotts, consumer boycotts and Mass demonstrations.

Latlhi and his classmate, Demonfort Kgotso Flatela, were later both expelled from St. Boniface High School, due to their involvement and active membership of both Gaso and Gayo (the authorities of the school did not allow students the freedom of association and regarded Latlhi and Kgotso as “bad influence” on other students).

Latlhi was arrested and detained for more than nine months in the Kimberly Prison (Bougroep). Subsequently he was charged for arson, public violence and participation in furthering the aims of a banned organisation.  He was released on bail, but rearrested after the charges where reinstated.

During the 1985 State of Emergency he left the country through Botswana, to join the then banned African National Congress (ANC)

Latlhi Mabilo was a trained Mkhonto we Sizwe (MK) cadre, who received his Military Training in Caculam, Angola, during 1985. He belonged to the detachment called the Lions. He later secretly returned to the country and went underground with a clear mission to further the aims and objectives of the ANC (and to advance the broader struggle for liberation).

On the 21 August 1987 the South African Apartheid Security Forces carried out an early raid, at approximatley 04:00, at his Safe House, 108 Kagisho Street, Ipopeng, Galeshewe. Comrade Latlhi was brutally killed in a cold blooded manner by the racist apartheid security branch members.

He was buried on September 1987 at the Galeshewe ABC Cemetery, under heavy apartheid security presence. In defiance, his coffin was draped with the black, green and gold flag of the then banned ANC.

Comrade Latlhi Mabilo is survived by his mother, three brothers, one sister, niece and nephews.

In Honour of his memory, a ANC branch, a street in Galeshewe also has been renamed Latlhi Mabilo.

"There's no struggle without Casulties"

We salute all our cadres who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Long live Latlhi Mabilo!  Long Live!