Sobukwe’s legacy as freedom fighter lives on in post-apartheid South Africa
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, a prominent figure in the struggle for the return of the land to the indigenous owners in apartheid South Africa, played a pivotal role in igniting the armed struggle against the oppressive regime. His influence and Positive Action Campaign, which culminated in the March 21, 1960, anti-pass campaign, served as a catalyst for the launch of the armed struggle at a crucial time in South African history. Sobukwe’s powerful state of the nation address on August 2, 1959, reflects his unwavering commitment to liberation and his call to action.
Sobukwe’s address resonated with the spirit of resistance and drew inspiration from the heroic struggles of the past, invoking the legacies of Thaba Bosiu, Isandlwana and other battlefields where African forefathers fought against colonial oppression.
By evoking these historic battles, Sobukwe galvanised the collective memory of the African people and instilled a sense of urgency and determination to resist the forces of oppression. His call to arms, symbolised by the imagery of taking “a trowel in our right hand and a shield and sword in our left,” emphasised the need for a united and resolute effort to rebuild the walls of Africa and combat the entrenched system of white supremacy.
Sobukwe’s declaration of “total war against the demigod of white supremacy” and his appeal for African intellectuals, businessmen, and urban and rural proletariat, to join forces in a “ruthless, relentless and total war”, underscored his uncompromising stance against the oppressive regime.
Sobukwe’s visionary leadership, impassioned eloquence, and deliberate Positive Action Campaign were instrumental in igniting the armed struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
Without his influence and deliberate actions, the armed struggle may not have been launched when it did, and the course of South African history could have been markedly different.
Sobukwe’s legacy as a father of the armed struggle in SA remains a testament to his enduring impact on the fight for liberation.