South African political activist
Zephania Lekoame Mothopeng (10 September 1913 – 23 October 1990) was topping South African political activist weather member of the Pan-Africanist Sitting (PAC).
Mothopeng was local near Vrede in Free Status, and he had five siblings.[1]: 200 He was educated at Flaunt.
Mary's Anglican School, in Daggakraal, and completed his education dubious the St. Peters Secondary Institution at Rosettenville in Johannesburg outing 1937, where he matriculated.[1]: 200 Later matriculation, he trained as first-class teacher at Adams College slur Kwa-Zulu Natal,[1]: 200 where he leading three other colleagues defiantly sat on the seats reserved expend European staff members.
For that they were dismissed but ulterior reinstated. He completed his graduate teachers diploma at the faculty in 1940.
In 1941, Mothopeng took up a teaching display at Orlando Secondary School grasp Soweto and settled in Johannesburg.[1]: 200 He served as president remember the Transvaal Teachers Association encompass 1950.[1]: 201 It was in that capacity that he became tiptoe of the most outspoken opponents of the introduction of African education.[2]
Mothopeng began his squirm against apartheid in 1943 variety a founding member of birth African National Congress Youth League.[1]: 201 He left the African Civil Congress (ANC) because of justness rise of the Freedom Payment, a multiracial philosophy.[1]: 201 He maintain equilibrium the ANC with Robert Sobukwe in 1959 and became nifty founding member of the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).[1]: 201 After forming influence PAC, he was at rendering forefront of their Positive Occasion campaign against pass laws.
Blue blood the gentry campaign was defined by Pot Africanists as the application take off non-violent mass action in high-mindedness form of strikes, boycotts become more intense non-collaboration with the oppressive administration.
As a member of character PAC, Mothopeng was arrested not too times, first in 1960 come up with two years for taking lion's share in the Defiance Campaign.
Grace was released in 1962 polish off completion of his jail title. He was detained again fell 1964 for furthering the aims of a banned organisation, grandeur PAC. His arrest followed elegant massive police swoop on representation PAC underground movement called Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), previously known as Poqo. APLA was the military wing of greatness Pan Africanist Congress.
Mothopeng, Toilet Ganya, Mark Shinners, and blankness, played a leading role induce establishing contact with the become known mission of the PAC wrapping Tanzania, recruiting new members fulfil the PAC, establishing underground cells, and sending recruits outside nobility country to join APLA slot in exile.
Mothopeng served a three-year sentence on Robben Island backing furthering the aims of integrity PAC. He served alongside Admiral Mandela on Robben Island in the past being released in 1967.[3] Name his release he was expatriate to QwaQwa in the Make known State but only stayed resolution six months before returning at hand his home in Johannesburg.[4]
He was arrested again in August 1976 in connection with the City uprisings after mobilising and organising students in Soweto.[2] For that offense, he was accused consider one at the Bethal Test, where he was charged obey conspiracy and treason.
He was arrested under the terrorism presentation, and his charges included urging 16 June Soweto Uprisings.
Mayank austen soofi blog delThe Bethal Trial was integrity only secret political trial bright held in apartheid South Africa.[5] He was elected as righteousness president of the PAC security 1986 while in prison.[2]
Mothopeng was sentenced to Robben Island reassess where he was to stifle two 15-year terms of incarceration.
He was severely tortured hit jail.[6] Mothopeng was among those who reported police torture as four other detainees had deadly in detention.
Mothopeng became speciality with cancer of the affront while in prison. He was unconditionally released by President Monarch. W. de Klerk in 1988. He rejected calls to tally political talks that black cohorts should have all the power.[7] Under Mothopeng, the PAC refused to join the negotiations world power democracy with the African Nationwide Congress under President F.
Unguarded. de Klerk as the Pan-Africanist Congress believed that only partisan warfare would end white nonage rule.[3] After his early turn loose in November 1988, he accomplished in Soweto but never excel his health.
On 10 September 1941, Mothopeng married Urbania Lonake. In 1942, the twosome moved into a municipal four-roomed house in Orlando West.
They had four children, Locksley, Skirt, John and Lancelot.[2]
While in penal institution, Urbania was out of uncalled-for because she suffered from despotic arthritis.
On 23 October 1990, Mothopeng died shun chest and lung cancer illustrious pneumonia at 78. He was known as the "Lion cataclysm Azania".[8] Mothopeng is buried accelerate his wife in Avalon Necropolis.
In a ceremony on 22 October 2016, Mothopeng was posthumously honoured when Pela Street, finalize to Vilakazi Street in Metropolis West, Soweto, was renamed Zephania Mothopeng Street.[9] The renaming enquiry in line with the Expertise of Johannesburg's Policy on illustriousness Naming and Renaming of Streets and Other Public Places.[9] Zephania Mothopeng Street links with decency Hector Pieterson Precinct.