Remembering Robert Sobukwe: 23 historical facts to learn about the Africanist struggle icon

The role played by Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe in the liberation struggle for human rights is remembered on March 21, with him have led  a demonstration against pass laws on March 21, 1960 that later spread across the country. A Pan-Africanist at core, an absolute revolutionary who believed that the future of South Africa should be in the hands of black South Africans. Here is a timeline of Sobukwe’s historical facts highlighting his role in the fight for equality and freedom, to better understand the struggle icon.   1.Robert Sobukwe was born in 1924 in the Cape Province.

2. He studied at Fort Hare University for tertiary university. The late Dr. Nelson Mandela also studied at Fort Hare University. 3. Sobukwe was never interested in politics. His study of Native Administration aroused his interest. 4. Sobukwe together with his friends launched a publication in 1948 titled “Beware Topics” a publication that critiqued the Native Representative Council and the Native Advisory Board. 5. He joined the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 1948. 6. In 1949 he was elected as the Student Representative Council (SRC) president of the Fort Hare. 7. He became the secretary of the ANCYL in 1949. 8. Sobukwe was inspired by the writings of Anton Lambede which made him adopt an Africanist approach

9. Robert Sobukwe and Veronica Mathe were united in matrimony in 1950. 10. In 1950 Sobukwe taught History, English and Geography at Jandrell Secondary School in Standerton. 11. He later moved to Johannesburg in 1954 and settled in Mofolo, Soweto. 12. He was the lecture at the University of the Witwatersrand teaching African studies.

13. In the year 1957 he became the editor of the ‘Africanist.’ 14. Sobukwe was an Africanist who believed that the future of South Africa should be in the hands of black South Africans. 15. He left the ANC and formed the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

16. As PAC president Sobukwe in 1960 wrote to the Commissioner of Police, major General Rademeyer stating that the PAC would be holding a five-day, non-violent, disciplined protest campaign against pass laws, starting on March 21.

17. He was arrested and charged with sedition in 1960. 18. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison for enacting Africans to demand the repeal of the pass laws. 19. He was later moved to Robben Ireland and remained there for additional six years, kept in solitary confinement and had no contact with any other prisoner. 20. He was released and placed under house arrest and permitted to attend family gatherings outside Kimberly. 21. While under arrest he studied Law and established his law firm in 1975. 22. In 1977 he fell ill after opening his law practice and was diagnosed with lung cancer. 23. He died from lung complications at Kimberly General Hospital in 1978.

Source: SAhistory