Monday October 19 has been dubbed Black Wednesday because in 1977 the apartheid regime dealt black journalism a big blow by clamping down on its influential publications of the time, The World and Weekend World which were edited by renowned Editor, the late Percy Qoboza.
There was also a clampdown on various Black Consciousness Movement organisations which were banned, thus impeding on Press Freedom. As we remember that fateful day, we also have to take into cognisance of the fact that the current government has also taken a resolution to revisit the Media Tribunal as was discussed during the ANC’s National General Council (NGC) over the weekend.
Let’s reflect on the occurrences back then as on September 12,1977, the white racist minority regime killed Bantu Steve Biko.
Almost thirty seven (37) days after Biko‘s brutal death, on October 19, 1977 the racist regime announced the banning of almost the entire spectrum of the Black Consciousness Movement Organisations comprising of Black Women’s Federation, Border Youth Organisation, Black Community Programmes (B.C.P), South African Students Organisation (SASO), Black People’s Convention (B.P.C), Black Parents Association (B.P.A), Zimele Trust Fund, Western Cape Youth Organisation, Union of Black Journalists (U.B.J), Transvaal Youth Organisation.
Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC), National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO), Natal Youth Organisation, Medupe Writers Organisation and the Eastern Province Youth Organisation.
Other organisations banned on the same day were: The Association for the Educational and Cultural Advancement of the African People of South Africa (Asseca).
The Christian Institute of Southern Africa along with these organisations, the regime also banned the two sister newspapers, The World and the Weekend World which were both edited by Percy Qoboza.
These newspapers are the predecessors of The Sowetan.In a nationwide swoop on the same day, the regime raided and arrested almost all people in the leadership positions of all the Black Consciousness Movement formations.
These included leaders such as: Hlaku Rachidi, Drake Tshenkeng, Thandisizwe Mazibuko, Mpotseng Kgokong, Aubrey Mokoena, George Wauchope, Madikwe Manthata, Thami Zani, Sedupe Ramokgopa and others who were detained under section 10 of the Internal Security Act.
Since then, Azapo, ANC, PAC and other organisations continue to commemorate this day.
Sources include Quest for True Humanity, Selected Speeches & Writings by Mosibudi Mangena. Bookmark the permalink.
