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his article focuses on cordial Robert Sobukwe relationships that existed Tbetween the leadership of institutions of higher education and the regime. An example proving How Wits and the that this leadership was guilty in aiding the Apartheid regime to achieve its Department of Justice hideous goals is reflected in a 5 May 1969 letter on the pending release of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, the Shaped his Life Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) leader. This letter, to be discussed later, was authored by GR Bozzoli, then

© BAHA Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). It was addressed to then Minister of Justice, Petrus Cornelius Pelser, who had publicly announced the release of Sobukwe. The letter also serves as an important historical document that provides primary evidence concerning the cosy relationship that existed between universities and the Apartheid regime. Robert Sobukwe was born on 5 December 1924 in Graaff-Reinet, Northern . He attended mission school at Healdtown and the where he became President of the Students’ Representative Council, Editor of the students’ magazine Inkundla Ya Bantu and Chairperson of the Fort Hare’s branch of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He was one of the ANCYL members who piloted the Youth League’s Programme of Action in 1949. He also led a series of students’ strikes and demonstrations, thereby incurring the wrath of authorities. His student grants were withdrawn, but with some financial assistance from friends, Sobukwe completed his BA degree, as well as a teacher’s diploma. He became a teacher at , History shows that a cosy relationship in the Transvaal, but was dismissed in 1952 for participating in the Defiance between the leadership of universities Campaign. He was reinstated, but soon left to take a post as a and the Apartheid regime not only Language Assistant at the University of the Witwatersrand in . existed, but directly impacted the lives and There he enrolled for a BA in African Studies, graduating with Honours in academic careers of freedom fighters, like Languages. He continued in that post until he resigned in 1960 to devote all Robert Sobukwe. his energies to the PAC, which had split from the African Nationalist Congress in 1959. In the same year, he became By Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu President of the PAC and Editor of their organ, the Africanist.

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He delivered the principal address political offences. Sobukwe was the came into the open…I am, therefore, at the PAC’s inaugural conference only person to be detained under in accordance with the provisions of held in Orlando East, in April this provision, which came to be the order served on me, appealing to 1959. At its first and only annual known as the “Sobukwe clause.” The you for protection against some of your conference held in December 1959, Apartheid regime was so afraid of his men who are supposed to provide me the PAC decided to launch a Positive influence that they separated him with protection.”4 Action Campaign “to overthrow white from other political prisoners and Sobukwe was subsequently released domination and to attain freedom and kept him at a secluded small house on on 13 May 1969 and confined under independence.” It was to take the . to Kimberley where form of “decisive and final positive For six years Sobukwe had he had no kith or kin. Prior to his action against the .” On 18 to endure imprisonment in total release, Pelser informed the press that March 1960, Sobukwe announced isolation from other prisoners. His Sobukwe should not “live where he that the “anti-pass” campaign would only “human” contact was with can, with reasonable ease, resume be launched three days later. In vicious, racist warders. This was an subversive activities.” The day before instructions sent to all PAC branches, intolerable form of psychological his release, on 12 May 1969, Sobukwe Sobukwe warned, “our people must torture. During his incarceration was served with a five-year banning be taught now and continuously to Sobukwe frequently complained about order under the Suppression of observe absolute non-violence.”1 persistent harassment but on 16 April Communism Act. He was prohibited On 21 March 1960, Sobukwe, 1969 in a letter addressed to Pelser, from leaving the municipality of accompanied by about 50 of his Sobukwe noted that the complaints Kimberley; attending any gathering; supporters, left his home in Mofolo he had made in 1967 were, to a large leaving his residence between Village, Soweto, marched to the extent, settled. However, new forms 6:00pm and 6:00am; communicating Orlando Police Station and presented of harassment and systematic torture with any other banned persons; himself for arrest. In many parts of had arisen. These included: being giving educational instruction at an , thousands of Africans served decomposed food deliberately educational institution; and, lastly, demonstrated peacefully and and at times served crushed bones participating in any publication. No surrendered themselves at police soup; constant interference with statement by him could be quoted.5 stations, asking to be arrested. The electric power supply; inordinate A year after his release, Sobukwe police, however, opened fire against delays with mail, which affected his applied for a passport to take up a unarmed peaceful demonstrators at UNISA lectures as well as interfering research and lecturing fellowship in , 68 people were shot and with his Nederlands studies and African Linguistics at the University killed (most of them in the back as they interference with a fruit parcel of Wisconsin in the United States fled) and 184 were wounded. The from Stuttafords.3 Most egregious, where he was also admitted as a police also resorted to ruthlessness in however, was that starting on 21 PhD student. At the same time, he the African townships of . March 1969, Sobukwe was subjected was offered two part-time lecturing Sobukwe and some of his lieutenants were charged, on 23 March 1960 with Accepting the proposed Wits offer and work conditions would sedition and incitement to riot. When they were brought to trial in April, they have been akin to being under house arrest in Kimberly. entered no plea and rejected both legal defence and bail.2 to what he termed systematic torture posts at Roosevelt University and the Sobukwe, a charismatic leader of as concentrated, compressed hot air Adlai Stevenson Institute in Chicago. the PAC who had a large following, was introduced into his room, stifling Sobukwe ultimately accepted the was sentenced in the Johannesburg him with unbearable heat. On 3 April University of Wisconsin offer together Regional Court on 4 May 1960 and 1969, compressed cold air was now with a revised offer from Roosevelt served three years’ imprisonment at introduced, simultaneously or switched University. But the Apartheid regime the Stofberg Prison in the Orange alternately with hot air. Sobukwe denied him permission to leave, so on Free State. complained about this form of torture 23 May 1970, he applied for an exit In an outrageous attack on the but the Commanding Officer showed permit. After a threat of court action, human rights and privileges of a no interest and two psychiatrists were the Minister of Interior granted him the prisoner completing his sentence, called in as a result of his persistent permit. But he could not leave South the Apartheid Parliament passed the protest to authorities. Again there was Africa as the banning orders confined General Law Amendment Act in 1963 no solution to this problem as their him to Kimberley and Pelser refused to extending Sobukwe’s imprisonment. report was not submitted. Sobukwe relax the order. The defiant Sobukwe This was enacted a day before wrote the following to Pelser: “In light applied to the Supreme Court his release. Under Section 10(1) of present experience, I realise that this for an order to permit him to travel to (a) of this Act, the government was treatment of hot and cold compressed the Jan Smuts Airport to leave South empowered to detain persons after air has been going on for years. It didn’t Africa, but on 22 June 1971, the Court they had completed sentences for start on 21 March. Only, on that day, it ruled that the restrictions under the

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teaching establishment as a Language off at Wits if Bozzoli’s machinations Assistant. This would necessitate our had become a reality. Accepting © BAHA creating a new post and we would the proposed Wits offer and work naturally have to satisfy ourselves that conditions would have been akin to Mr Sobukwe could and would fill the being under house arrest in Kimberly. post completely and adequately. As Furthermore, why would Bozzoli these steps take time to complete, it offer Sobukwe a post as a Language would be helpful to the University Assistant; a post similar to that which to know confidentially, as soon as it he had held before his imprisonment? suits your convenience, whether the Bozzoli failed to consider the fact restrictions which might be placed that by 1969 Sobukwe held a second upon him would be such that he would degree, a BSc (Economics) and was be unable to accept employment of this enrolled for articles and studies for his type, but our willingness to assist in his LLB degree. Would it not have been rehabilitation might be of assistance to better to offer him perhaps a Junior yourself in determining the conditions Lectureship post, or were lectureships of his release. I need hardly add that a preserve for white academics during banning orders were equivalent to the whole matter would be handled, the 1960s? Was it a case of African a court order of imprisonment and on our part, with the minimum of intellectuals doomed to remain dismissed the application. The decision publicity, and we would ensure that Mr assistants for the remainder of their was upheld by the Appellate Division Sobukwe understood this and would careers? Such demeaning humiliation on 12 December 1971. Earlier, on 8 appreciate that we could not retain was not unique to Sobukwe’s case July 1970, Sobukwe had noted: “I am, him on the staff if he courted publicity because the brilliant Dr Bhambatha therefore, a prisoner of the Minister or became active in politics. We realise Wallet Vilakazi, regardless of the fact of Justice, whose restrictions make it full well that we might land ourselves in that he obtained his PhD degree at impossible for me to take employment difficulties but we are prepared to face Wits during the 1940s, remained for which I am qualified and which this if it would help your Department officially a Language Assistant in can pay me satisfactorily. I have four and the position generally.”7 the African Studies department for children at school, two of whom have The question is: Why would Bozzoli years. Notwithstanding his academic this year entered high school. My wife is be prepared to defend and be of achievements, Dr Vilakazi was never unemployed, and since I am no longer assistance to the Apartheid regime officially recognised as a qualified in jail I am expected to provide for my if Sobukwe continued his interest in lecturer by the University. As members family and educate my children.”6 politics? Is Bozzoli in the last line of of the supposedly superior race, white But an intriguing incidence that had his letter, referring to an ideological students were duly informed by the major political ramifications occurred or a political position? Maybe Bozzoli racist university administration that just before Sobukwe’s release on abhorred African nationalism as an they were not obliged to follow some 13 May 1969. Bozzoli authored the ideology and was trying to curtail its of Dr Vilakazi’s instructions. following incriminating letter addressed ascendancy by being “prepared to try To conclude, on the Sobukwe affair, to Pelser. It was dated 5 May 1969 and to fit him [Sobukwe] into the teaching the leadership of the University of the is worth quoting in full: establishment [though] we could not Witwatersrand nailed their political “We are glad that you have now retain him on the staff if he courted colours to the mast. The unanswered felt able to announce the release of publicity or became active in politics.” big question is why? For nine years Richard [sic – note that the honourable Professor Bozzoli’s stance was, in Sobukwe was subjected to 12-hour Vice-Chancellor could not tell essence quite morally repugnant, not house arrest and under constant the difference between ‘Richard’ to mention the fact that he wanted surveillance by the security forces. He and ‘Robert’] Sobukwe and as this to be taken into confidence by Pelser passed away on 27 February 1978 at University was his previous employer concerning possible repressive actions the relatively young age of 54. Although I feel that we might be thought to to be exercised against Sobukwe after he died from lung cancer no doubt have some moral responsibility to his release from Robben Island. Really, his traumatic experience as a political assist him in his rehabilitation on his this was not rehabilitation but simply a prisoner contributed to his early death. release from prison. I would like you case whereby the University officially However, he remains a respected to know that if it would be helpful to assumed duties of the Apartheid and well-loved political leader of the government, the University would regime. One can therefore deduce that the national liberation movement of be prepared to try to fit him into the Sobukwe would not have been better South Africa. ■ Notes: 1 United Nations, Unit on Apartheid, Department of Political and Security Council Affairs, Notes and Document, No 3/72, January 1972. 2 Ibid. 3 National Archives Depot (NAD), Sobukwe File 2/3/2/1503 Vol 1V. 4 Ibid. 5 NAD, Sobukwe File 10/3/2/1/1503, Vol 5 and File 2/3/2/1503, Vol 7 6 Ibid, File 2/3/2/1503 Vol 1V. 7 Ibid, File 2/3/2/1503 Vol 1V.

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