Tsala ea Becoana
Political History
Zephania Mothopeng began his struggle against apartheid in the African National Congress Youth League in the 1940's. He left the ANC in 1959 and joined Robert Sobukwe in founding the Pan-Africanist Congress.
Zephania Mothopeng was arrested several times: first for two years in 1960 for taking part in the Defiance Campaign . After his release, he was detained for a second time in 1963 and then again 1964, spending part of his sentence with Nelson Mandela on Robben Island before being released in 1967. [1]
Zephania Mothopeng, John Ganya, Mark Shinners and others played a leading role in establishing contact with the external mission of the PAC in Tanzania, recruiting new members to the PAC, establishing underground cells, and sending recruits outside the country to join Poqo.
He was arrested under the terrorism act and imprisoned for allegedly inciting the June 16 Soweto Uprising. He was tortured in detention. [2]
Zephania Mothopeng was tried in the only secret political trial ever held in apartheid South Africa [3]
While in prison, Mothopeng was among those who alleged police torture and testified of four other detainees who had died in detention.
He was elected its president in 1986 while in prison at Diepkloof Prison in Soweto.
He became ill with cancer of the throat while in prison and after his early release in November 1988, he settled in Soweto but never recovered his health. Under Mothopeng the PAC refused to join the negotiations on democracy with the Nationalist Party under President F. W. de Klerk as the Pan-Africanist Congress believed that only guerrilla warfare would end white minority rule. [1]
Death and Legacy
He was known as the “Lion of Azania [4].
During a ceremony on 22 October 2016, he was honoured with the renaming of Pela Street, close to Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, to Zephania Mothopeng Street. [5]
The renaming is in line with the City of Johannesburg’s Policy on the Naming and Renaming of Streets and Other Public Places. [6] Zephania Mothopeng Street links with the Hector Pieterson Precinct.
Personal Life
On 10 September 1941 Zephania Mothopeng married Urbania Babe Lonake. In 1942, the couple moved into a municipal four roomed house in Orlando West. While in prison, Urbania was out of work because she suffered from severe arthritis. He is buried with his wife Urbania Mothopeng in Avalon Cemetery
Death and Legacy
He was known as the “Lion of Azania [4].
During a ceremony on 22 October 2016, he was honoured with the renaming of Pela Street, close to Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, to Zephania Mothopeng Street. [5]
The renaming is in line with the City of Johannesburg’s Policy on the Naming and Renaming of Streets and Other Public Places. [6] Zephania Mothopeng Street links with the Hector Pieterson Precinct.
Personal Life
On 10 September 1941 Zephania Mothopeng married Urbania Babe Lonake. In 1942, the couple moved into a municipal four roomed house in Orlando West. While in prison, Urbania was out of work because y his wife she suffered from severe arthritis. He is buried with his wife Urbania Mothopeng in Avalon Cemetery
References
- ^ a b Zephania Mothopeng, 77, Dies; Headed South African Movement. 1990. Online. Accessed 1 November 2017
- ^ [1]
- ^ Ebrahim, A. “Pan Africanist Congress” Accessed 1 November.
- ^ a b “Former PAC President, Zeph Mothopeng Honoured with Street Name. 2016. Accessed 1 November 2017.
- ^ a b Street Re-naming to Honour Zephania Mothopeng. 2016. Accessed 1 November 2017.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
”heritage”was invoked but never defined (see the help page).