FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME CELEBRATING EVENTS AND HEROES OF THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA 2 3 FOOTPRINTS LABOUR OF LOVE IN THE SANDS OF TIME Unveiling the Nkosi Albert Luthuli Legacy Project in August 2004, President Thabo Mbeki reminded us that: “... as part of the efforts to liberate ourselves from apartheid and colonialism, both physically and mentally, we have to engage in the process of telling the truth about the history of our country, so that all of our people, armed with this truth, can confidently face the challenges of this day and the next. ISBN 978-1-77018-205-9 “This labour of love, of telling the true story of South Africa and Africa, has to be intensified on © Department of Education 2007 all fronts, so that as Africans we are able to write, present and interpret our history, our conditions and All rights reserved. You may copy material life circumstances, according to our knowledge and from this publication for use in non-profit experience. education programmes if you acknowledge the source. For use in publication, please Courtesy Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) obtain the written permission of the President Thabo Mbeki “It is a challenge that confronts all Africans everywhere Department of Education. - on our continent and in the Diaspora - to define ourselves, not in the image of others, or according to the dictates and Enquiries fancies of people other than ourselves ...” Directorate: Race and Values, Department of Education, Room 223, President Mbeki goes on to quote from a favourite 123 Schoeman Street, Pretoria sub·lime adj 1. so awe-inspiringly poem of Nkosi Albert Luthuli; A Psalm of Life, by Henry Tel: (012) 312-5080 beautiful as to seem Longfellow: Fax: (012) 326-1909 almost heavenly Email: [email protected] 2. of the highest moral or Lives of great men all remind us spiritual value We can make our lives sublime, 3. excellent or particularly And, departing, leave behind us impressive (informal) 4. complete or utter Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, So, what Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, ‘footprints in the A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, sands of time’ will you leave Seeing, shall take heart again. behind? “I am confident that through our combined efforts, together we can make the lives of our people sublime and magnificent, uplifting particularly those who occupy the lowest rung in CELEBRATING EVENTS AND HEROES our social order. In doing so, and as the poet said, we will OF THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM emulate A.J. Luthuli in leaving behind us ‘footprints on the AND DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA sands of time’.” 4 5 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TWO AFRICAS: THE ONE BEFORE AND THE ONE AFTER THE HOLOCAUST.......7 his book was written in 2007, a year that One hero we all need to be reminded of is Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. The title of chapter six: OF 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Tcelebrated and commemorated many anniversaries. Fifty years ago, under the leadership THE AFRICAN, BY THE AFRICANS, FOR of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana became the AFRICANS, describes the kind of Africanist - WE DIE LIKE BROTHERS ... WE ARE THE SONS OF AFRICA ...............................15 first sub-Saharan African country to reclaim her inspired government he wanted to see. The year 90th Anniversary of the Sinking of the SS Mendi independence from colonial rulers. Since then, all 2008 is the 29th anniversary of the death of this other African countries have fought to take back great thinker, and the first leader of the Pan Africanist WE SHALL RESIST .................................................................................................21 their freedom. Congress. 90th Anniversary of the Three Doctors’ Pact For many decades, Africa was the victim of Our celebrations would not be complete without colonialism. The infamous Berlin Conference of remembering the courageous young leader, Steve LET MY PEOPLE GO ...............................................................................................29 1884 had divided Africa between European powers. Biko, who was murdered by police 30 years ago. 50th Anniversary of the Death of Nkosi Albert Luthuli What made this occupation possible was that Africa His philosophy of Black Consciousness, which had been brought to its knees by almost 400 years of called black people to liberate themselves from self- CHAMPION OF FREEDOM ......................................................................................37 slavery. Africa’s male population had been reduced oppression, has inspired people all over the world. 90th Anniversary of the Birth of Oliver Reginald Tambo by 20%, and its morale had been destroyed. You can Explore these ideas in chapter seven: BLACK read about the 200th anniversary of the abolition MAN, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. of the British slave trade in chapter one: TWO OF THE AFRICAN, BY THE AFRICANS, FOR AFRICANS ......................................47 AFRICAS: THE ONE BEFORE AND THE Inspired by their leaders, South Africans from all 29th Anniversary of the Death of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe ONE AFTER THE HOLOCAUST. cultural and economic backgrounds have marched in protest against apartheid. One of the most BLACK MAN, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN ................................................................55 Not all anniversaries are celebrations. Some are courageous marches of all time happened 50 years 30th Anniversary of the Death of Steve Bantu Biko better thought of as commemorations. Ninety years ago. It was the three-month Alexandra Bus Boycott, ago, about 300 black South Africans died with the in which marchers cried, ASIKWELWA! WE WILL NOT RIDE! ASIKWELWA! WE WILL NOT RIDE! ........................................................................63 sinking of the SS Mendi during the First World War. Their moving story is told in chapter two: WE DIE 50th Anniversary of the Alexandra Bus Boycott LIKE BROTHERS ... WE ARE THE SONS OF Peaceful protests very quickly invited violence AFRICA. from the apartheid government, and many South DAWN OF NEGOTIATION .......................................................................................69 Africans embraced an armed struggle in response. 20th Anniversary of the Dakar Declaration We then turn our attention to the liberation struggle The violence could have gone on for many years, of the mid 20th century, in which many brave South but 20 years ago, some far-thinking black and white CREATING OUR FUTURE TODAY ..........................................................................77 Africans, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy South Africans agreed to talk to each other about negotiations for a peaceful change. A group of 5th Anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development of passive resistance, marched together in peaceful demonstrations against racial discrimination. There white Afrikaners and the leaders of the ANC, met is a long history of cooperation between Indian and in Dakar, Senegal, and began a new DAWN OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES...........................................................................................85 black South Africans. It began 90 years ago with the NEGOTIATION. Three Doctors’ Pact, which you can read about in Acknowledgements Photo credits: Ahmed Kathrada; AP Photo; Artist Proof Studio; chapter three: WE SHALL RESIST. This new dawn inspires us to look to the future, as Bailey’s African History Archives; Adil Bradlow; Luli Callinicos; Cape we did five years ago when we hosted the World Project management by Rola Ball Eduscript. Town Archives Repository; Chancery of Orders, The Presidency; Daily Summit on Sustainable Development, and began Despatch; Department of Education; Film Resource Unit; Henner While the history of liberation in South Africa relied Frankenfeld; Dr Lancelot Gama; Rashid Lombard; Benny Gool; Graaff- on the mobilisation of thousands, it also relied on the to explore how we are all CREATING OUR Research and writing by Eugenie Banhegyi, André Croucamp, Reinet Museum; Marit Greenwood; Peter Greenwood; Government leadership of a few. The year 2007 marks the 50th FUTURE TODAY. Diane Favis, Dr Patricia Watson and Neil Verlaque-Napper. Communications and Information Services; Heinemann SA; Steve Hilton- Barber; Hollybrook Memorial; International Organisation of Migration; anniversary of the death of Nkosi Albert Luthuli. We hope these commemorations inspire you to Historical consultant: Phil Bonner. Jonathan Ball Publishers; John Carter Brown Library; Johncom Media; Chapter four uses the title of Luthuli’s famous book, Johnnic Communications; Dina Kraft; Local History Museum, Durban; LET MY PEOPLE GO. cherish your freedom. We invite you to learn about Mayibuye Centre, UWC; Media 24; MTN Art Collection; NASA; National the history of your freedom in the LEARNING Picture research by Marie Human. Archives; National Library of South Africa; National Maritime Museum, London; National Military Museum; Navy News Magazine; Nelson The year 2007 is also the 90th anniversary of the ACTIVITIES for each chapter found on page 85 of Illustration by Alastair Findlay. Mandela Metropolitan Museum; Sam Nhlengethwa; Tony Nkotsi, Norwich birth of Oliver Reginald Tambo. In chapter five: this book. Castle Museum and Art Gallery; PictureNet Africa; Royal Main; SA Military CHAMPION OF FREEDOM, we celebrate Design and layout by Jerome Erasmus and Neil Verlaque-Napper. Museum; SA Tourism; Sharpeville Remembered Project Department of Visual Arts and Design, Vaal Triangle Technikon;