Alcott Skei Gwentshe

Alcott Skwenene ‘Skei’ Gwentshe
Born	Alcott Skwenene Gwentshe
Died	27th of October 1966 Tsomo village, Eastern Cape
Nationality	South African
Occupation(s)	Shopkeeper,Political Activist
Known for	Political activism
Political party	African National Congress
Board member of	African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) branch in East London
Partner	Irene Ngcebesha-Gwentshe
Children	Zweliyazuza ‘Duke’ Gwentshe and Zwelbanzi ‘Boyce’ Gwentshe

Alcott Skwenene ‘Skei’ Gwentshe (died 27th of October 1966) was a shopkeeper and activist who contributed to the establishment of an African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) branch in East London, organising East London ‘stay-ins’ and boycotts as well as the 1952 Defiance Campaign. He was also one of the first political activists banished under the Native Administration Act under the South African Apartheid government.

Political activity

Gwentshe started attending ANC meetings from as early as 1948. He attended meetings in various towns in the Eastern Cape which alarmed the government and was thus placed under watch by the security police. Documentation by the security police which led to his banishment noted him saying at a meeting in Queenstown, ‘I appeal to the African as individuals, teachers, preachers, policeman and the C.I.D to prepare for the struggle in the near future. I also appeal to these present to defy the laws, i.e. Pass Laws, and if arrested, not pay their fines.’

Gwentshe played a significant role in the establishment of the African National Congress Youth League in East London in 1949. He also organised the East London ‘stay-at-home’ of 26 June 1950 as well as the 1952 Defiance Campaign. He was the chairperson of the ANC in East London and also the president of the Cape ANC Youth League. He was described as a powerful and charismatic leader who was able to mobilise many people, making East London one of the most prominent centers of protest during the Defiance Campaign.

Gwentshe secured permission for a ‘prayer meeting’ under the Suppression of Communism Act and Riotous Assemblies Act for just over 50 Eastern Cape leaders. The meeting was scheduled for the 9th of November 1952 where leaders were to discuss the aftermath of the Port Elizabeth and Kimberly riots. The police soon discovered that the meeting was not of a religious nature and ordered for the dispersion of 1500 people. The crowd was reluctant to disperse and the police opened fire with stun grenades, revolvers and rifles. Due to the rioting, nine people were killed, of which two were white police officials. Additionally, numerous buildings, buses and churches were burnt down. There were numerous arrests as well as two hangings that resulted from this incident. After the riots, the police raided the ‘locations’, segregated urban areas for black people, in order to ensure that people had their pass books and consequently, hundreds of women and children had to flee East London to the rural reserves as they were living there illegally.

After Gwentshe’s ‘prayer meeting’, he was banned under the Suppression of Communism Act from attending meetings of any sort for six months. He was found guilty of violating his banning order of the 26 March 1953 and sentenced to nine years imprisonment. After his release, he attended a Liberal Party meeting in February 1954 where he expressed the need for black people to have positions on the municipal bodies and not representatives. The East London municipality then began urging the government to banish Gwentshe. He was then banished from his home, Duncan village in the Red Location (township), to Maviljan Farm in Pilgrims Rest in the Eastern Transvaal. Gwentshe, alongside Joel Lengesi became one of the first people banished from East London in 1954.

Upon arrival in Pilgrims Rest, Gwentshe declined a job that was offered to him and it was suspected that he received funding from the ANC. The government believed that he was being visited by ANC members. As his residential home was in a busy urban area, the government decided to move him to a more rural area in order to have better surveillance of his actions. In April 1955, he was banished to the Native Trust Farm Frenchdale, which is located in what is now known as Mafikeng, in the North West province. In 1956, he was arrested in Mafikeng for disobeying the order of the Governor-General to remain on the farm Frenchdale. He was alleged to have left the farm and to be living in Mafikeng location. He was released on bail of £25 and with representation by lawyer Joe Slovo, he was found to not be guilty of contravening his banishment order.

In August 1956, Can Themba, writer and editor of ‘Drum’ magazine, released an expose of the Frenchdale ‘concentration camp,’ titled ‘Banned to the bush,’. The expose focused extensively on Gwentshe. Then in 1957, he was permitted to return to his home village, Tsomo, in the Transkei, now Eastern Cape province. His banishment order was revoked in June 1960.

The withdrawal document of his banishment was written Afrikaans bearing the signatures of then president CR Swart, Prime Minister HF Verwoerd, and Minister MDC de Wet Nel. It was noted that although there had been accusations of misconduct, no evidence of misconduct was found, and the Police Commissioner did not object to his return.

He died on the 27th of October 1966 due to unknown causes in the Eastern Cape. Documentation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission noted that it was believed by family members that Gwentshe was poisoned to death by members of the security branch two years after his detention. This was never proven and remains a suspicion.

Personal life

Gwentshe was orphaned during the Bulhoek massacre. Little is known of his early life except that he grew up in the Tsomo village in the Eastern Cape. He also enjoyed jazz music and was the leader of the Hot Shots Musical band throughout his youth.

Gwentshe married Irene Ngcebesha-Gwentshe who was also active in the struggle against Apartheid. They had two sons, Zweliyazuza ‘Duke’ Gwentshe and Zwelbanzi ‘Boyce’ Gwentshe. Gwentshe taught Duke how to play the saxophone at an early age. The sons died within a week of each other in February 2008 and had a joint funeral service.

External links

• http://sabctrc.saha.org.za/documents/hrvtrans/east_london/55252.htm
• http://psimg.jstor.org/fsi/img/pdf/t0/10.5555/al.sff.document.nuun1970_01_final.pdf

See Also

• Benjamin Pogrund, Sobukwe's biographer, who wrote, How Can Man Die Better: The Life of Robert Sobukwe.
• List of people subject to banning orders under apartheid