27/02/2024
Today we remember Prof Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe:
In summary Prof Sobukwe was a "Teacher, lecturer, lawyer, Fort Hare University SRC President, secretary of the ANC branch in Standerton, founding member and first president of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and Robben Island prisoner".
Amongst all his accolades, it took courage for him to join the noble profession as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
"In 1949, he received his BA from Fort Hare University College (whose students were Unisa-registered). He took his Attorneys’ Admission Examination through Unisa in 1974 while under house arrest."
"He completed his articles in Kimberley, and established his own law firm in 1975. The government’s Department of Justice initially denied him permission to enter the courts, but reversed the decision and withdrew the prohibition after the government relaxed a clause that banned Sobukwe from entering a court of law except as an accused or as a witness. However, newspapers were not allowed to quote him when he argued in court".
"The relaxation allowed Mr. Sobukwe to practice law in Kimberley and thus earn a living for his family of six for the first time since his arrest fifteen years ago".
"Shortly after opening his law practice, Sobukwe fell ill. The government deliberately made it harder for Sobukwe to receive treatment by insisting that he should comply with the conditions of his restrictions, despite his evidently failing health. On 27 February 1978 Sobukwe died from lung complications at Kimberley General Hospital. His funeral was held on 11 March 1978 and he was buried in Graaff-Reinet.
Today, he remains a celebrated political figure in the struggle for a democratic South Africa."
References:
Articles Online:
Unisa online "Robert Sobukwe" Available https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Unisa-History-and-Memory-Project/Personalities/All-personalities/Robert-Sobukwe [ accessed 27 February 2024 ].
South African History Online, 2011. "Robert Sobukwe, 17 February 2011" from South African History Online [online]. Available https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/robert-sobukwe [accessed 27 February 2024].
Newspaper Articles/Print media:
Robert Sobukwe can now practise as an attorney,’ Sunday Times, 6 April 1975.
Thaw in South Africa?,' The New York Times, 10 April 1975.
Image source from:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Unisa-History-and-Memory-Project/Personalities/All-personalities/Robert-Sobukwe