27 February 2001

Address By Dr Motsoko Pheko To The Cape Technikon

Sobukwe The Distinguished Revolutionary Remembered

In the entire history of the world no Parliament ever made a law to govern one man. But in South Africa the "Sobukwe Clause" was legislated hurriedly by the South African Parliament to imprison, detain and later house arrest and banish a Political leader who later died after eighteen years of persecution harassment and cancer injected into his body. This happened on Robben Island.

Commenting on the "Sobukwe Clause," Johannes Balthazar Vorster, then Minister of Justice of South Africa, and speaking in the apartheid colonialist parliament said:

"Then we come to the Sobukwe Clause. This is a long clause …. I appreciate …. That the principle of this clause is drastic …. It is …. Imprisonment that is concerned with the security of the state. It does not relate to imprisonment of any other crime.

Honourable members have read their newspapers they will know that he was firstly the leader of the PAC and I can tell Honourable members there has been no change of heart in him during the time he has not been in our midst.

If the Government … has to consider this matter, it comes to the conclusion that it would be failing in its duty to the peaceful citizenry if it were to set this man free.

"The Sobukwe Clause will be used to keep him there longer."

A liberal member of Parliament pointed out that "'Sobukwe was sent to jail by a judge for incitement against the pass laws. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment. He is still paying for the tragedy of Sharpeville, although it was not he and the people who were protesting against the pass laws who opened fire."

To this Vorster replied, "I have respect for the attitude of the Honourable member for Houghton …. But I want to say to her that if her amendment were to succeed and Robert Sobukwe were released, we would have a fine to do in this country."

This parliamentary debate as is now clear was about the unique Pan Africanist leader and distinguished revolutionary. That was Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. Sobukwe died under house arrest and in banishment on 27 Feburary 1978. He was aged 54. Sobukwe was born on 5th December 1924 in Graaf Reinet. He was the youngest of six, 5 boys and a girl. He obtained his University education at Fort Hare. He later became a lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in African languages.

Disturbed by the political oppression economic exploitation and social degradation to which his people were subjected under apartheid colonialism; Sobukwe resigned his position at Witwatersrand University to serve in the struggle to liberate his people. He left his good pay and abandoned his status in the academic world. Those days it was a real prestigious thing to teach white students at a white university.

His puzzled privileged white students asked: "How can you resign such an important University post for suffering with your people?" Sobukwe replied by telling them a story: "Once upon a time a hungry starving wolf left the forest and approached the village of man.. On the way it met a sleek, fat dog.

"Brother, how come that you are so sleek and happy when I am lean and discontented?" asked the wolf.

The dog replied, "I live with a family. My master feeds me well and I do not work at all. I play with my master's children the whole day long. They love me very much. Why don't you join me and be sleek and happy too?"

"Will your master and his family love me too?" asked the wolf, desperate for food.

"Oh; yes," replied the dog.

"Let us go," the dog said.

On the way, the wolf noticed a scar on the dog's neck.

"Hey! What is that scar on your neck?" he asked.

"Oh," laughed the dog, "that is nothing. It was caused by the chain. You see, at night I am chained. But that does not worry me, "the dog added hastily," because it is nothing and I am well fed and cared for!"

"You are chained at night!" "asked the wolf alarmed. "Then thank you for your food. I am accustomed to freedom in the forest where I roam. I cannot exchange my freedom for chains and full belly." The hungry wolf went back to the forest.

It is known where Sobukwe went after resigning from the University of Witwatersrand. He led his people through the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania which launched the Sharpeville Uprising against the pass laws on 21st March 1960. For 18 years after that historic campaign, Sobukwe's residences became jail in Leeukop, Stofberg, Pretoria and Robben Island and banishment and house arrest in Kimberly for eighteen years and death. That was the price he was prepared to pay for the freedom and liberation of his people.

He knew that freedom is not a cheap commodity. It is costly.

Sobukwe believed that True Leadership demands complete subjugation of self, absolute honesty integrity and uprightness of character, courage and fearlessness, and above all a consuming love for one's people. "These words are today inscribed on his grave at Graaf Reinet.

When Sobukwe died all progressive nations of the world and liberation movements paid tribute to the "Defier of the Undefiable."

A Zambian newspaper, too added, "Robert Sobukwe alive was a fearless warrior against the evil apartheid colonialism in South Africa. Robert Sobukwe in death remains the moving inspiration of Africans who refuse to compromise with the enemy …. An extremely intelligent and articulate university professor and laywer, Sobukwe would have enjoyed the best of this world if he had wished. He would have played ball with apartheid as many Blacks in South Africa have done to save their skins.

Both foe and friend have acknowledged Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe as a distinguished revolutionary and pace setter in the politics of South Africa. He was a maker of history throughout his life.

Of Sobukwe a South African Minister of Justice said, he would detain him forever "this side of eternity." He told the South African Parliament !

"The powers that are seeking our downfall are gathering their forces to destroy us and at this time they are assiduously looking for a star to give lustre to their nefarious schemes .… Sobukwe would if given the opportunity, not hesitate to make up and regain what he has lost during his time of detention…. Sobukwe is a leader, a man who had the entire country in turmoil within a short space of time"

Sobukwe was imprisoned on Robben Island without trial and kept in solitary confinement for six years. He was guarded by five prison warders with two Alsation dogs. This exercise cost the South African regime over R450,000.

Sobukwe's leadership of the Sharpeville uprising internationalised the evil system of apartheid. Before the PAC positive action campaign against the pass laws in South Africa, the united nations at the insistence of India debated only the plight of Indians in South Africa.

Sobukwe changed all that. As a result of the Sharpeville uprsiging led by his liberation movement, the united nations become seized with the problem of apartheid from 1960 to 1994. It was also through his leadership that the pass laws in South Africa were abolished.

About Sobukwe's involvement in the Sharpeville Uprising and reputable journalist writing in the Africa Report of April 1962, said:

"In March 1960, Robert Sobukwe, President of the Pan Africanist Congress helped orchestrate a crisis that panicked the South African government and nearly brought about the kind of anarchy which too often makes the transfer of power overnight…. At the age of 36 Sobukwe has a rare distinction of having scared Dr Verwoerds' government out of its wits. As anybody knows by now the South African government does not scare easy."

Sobukwe was the first to challenge South African courts which tried him and his PAC colleagues. In April 1960, he reminded the magistrate:

"Your Worship, it will be remembered that when this case began we refused to plead, because we felt no moral obligation whatsoever to obey laws which are made exclusively by a white minority….. But I would like to quote what was said by somebody before, that an unjust law cannot be justly applied.

We believe in one race only - the human race to which we all belong. The history of that race is a long struggle against all restrictions, physical, mental and spiritual. We would have betrayed the human race if we had not done our share. We are glad to have made our contribution. We stand for equal rights for all individuals ,,,,

As individuals we do not count; we are but the tools of history which will always find new tools. We are not afraid of the consequences of our actions and it is not our intention to plead for mercy. Thank you, your worship"

Sobukwe has not been given his deserved place of prominence in the political history of this country. Some political dwarfs are afraid that if the truth become known about Sobukwe, they might be exposed as "pretenders to the throne".

But the truth about Sobukwe and that of his PAC colleagues cannot be erased from history. In fact, the PAC has long advocated his residences in Mofolo, in Robben Island and in Graaf Reinet be declared protected areas for posterity and for tourists. This is one of the ways Sobukwe can be honoured by the reluctant and apparently sectarian present South African Government , which often gives the false impression that only its pastly leaders and members and those of its "allies" contributed to the liberation struggle in this country.

Sobukwe was a dedicated Pan Africanist. He like other Pan Africanist such as Nkrumah Lumumba and Du Bois believed the future of Africa and total liberation of this continent shall be achieved through Pan Africanism. Pan Africanism cannot be killed by one blow. Neither by a series of blows. The anti-Pan African forces might win the first round, but there will be a second round. They might win the tenth round, but there will be an eleventh one.

Sobukwe is yet to be decently honoured by this country. Mutilaters and manipulaters of history cannot conceal the truth about Sobukwe forever. After meeting Sobukwe in South Africa, the former African-American Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young said, "There are people who shape history. I put Sobukwe in that class."

If necessary call Dr Pheko 0825713207