An undated photo of the late PAC stalwart Robert Sobukwe. Picture: Supplied
“We must, therefore, appreciate our role. We must appreciate our responsibility. The African people have entrusted their whole future to us. And we have sworn that we are leading them, not to death, but to life abundant.” – Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe
MANY magnificent human beings who achieved so much in the past are now almost forgotten. In retrospect, almost every era may be viewed as an age of giants, and, in the glorious history of the struggle for liberation in South Africa, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe stands out as such a formidable giant. Of course, there is always an element of danger involved in in seeing the past though the present.
The contemporary glass through which we review the past may show us new aspects, but it may also discolour or distort. If we are to avoid errors, we must try to see Sobukwe in his own context, not ours. Even within that context, Sobukwe was the greatest. Highly revered, Sobukwe remains one of the best brains of South Africa’s struggle for liberation.
December 5 marked the centennial of one of the most ignored iconic figures in the history of the South African struggle against colonial apartheid, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, the most feared crusader against the apartheid government.
Sadly, the day was marked with conspicuous silence just as his incarceration on Makana island and his activities being muted and edited out of history books and memories. What is even more tragic and disgraceful is that very few of today’s youth know what Sobukwe, the Pan African hero, stood for or appreciate his selfless contribution to the South African struggle for decolonisation.
His legacy, however, continues to live on in our hearts. From Cape to Cairo, his message shall continue to reverberate, and his flame and light shall also continue to burn.
A full account of why Sobukwe was such an endearing figure requires a brief look at his personality, his character, and his passions. Mangaliso Sobukwe was inarguably an unforgettable personality.
Tall in stature, he was full of humor, coffee, opinions, insights, memories, and commentary. Great teacher, important scholar, tireless worker, willing and able servant to all. Beyond personality, of course, comes character. Many words can describe Sobukwe's inner self. Honest, candid, loyal, good natured, fair minded and understanding come immediately to mind.
The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu had this to say about Sobukwe: “I am greatly privileged to have known him and to have fallen under his spell. His long imprisonment, restriction and early death were a major tragedy for our land and the world.”
Indeed, knowing our heroes and heroines, both living and departed, is a sign of self-respect. Familiarity with the ideas of Sobukwe is a sign of self-liberation. According to D Hook, in his article, A threatening personification of freedom or: Sobukwe and repression, Sobukwe functions precisely as a signifier for a cluster of ideas and aspirations routinely excluded–indeed, repressed–from the post- apartheid public sphere.
The professor, as Sobukwe was reverently called, is fondly remembered for his incredible energy, luminescent spirit, creativity, and intellectual brilliance. Sobukwe was adept at expressing the deep-seated malaise of living in the bondage of colonialism.
He was a university-trained intellectual and was engaged with contemporary thinking. We miss terribly but treasure his memory. His humility toward the brilliance of his mind was an unforgettable experience: in his merciless self-criticism and tireless search of the truth endeared him to so many of his contemporaries.
Sobukwe's lifelong ideals were hard work, passion, and dedication, striving for the highest order of perfection. He was always inspiring to many as a mentor, friend , and colleague. His wise counsel, inspiration, and enthusiasm are deeply missed by many.
Robert Sobukwe, the most original thinker, was the standard by which others have been and will be measured. He was an intellectual of extraordinary organisational ability who possessed a remarkable intellect.
His ability to expose an error by sharp and penetrating analysis was amazing. He was a consequent and critical conversationalist and a brilliant thinker. Sobukwe was a great human being and a leader of an originality that has become very rare indeed.
His creative genius combined precision with imagination for highly effective use. His passionate quest for knowledge and his undeterrable search for the truth were contagious. The accomplishments in his life's grandiose toil not only earned him the respect but the admiration of many people throughout the world.
The true measure of Sobukwe can only be seen in hindsight. Political scientists of the future will be better able to weigh Robert Sobukwe's impact than present-day political scientists. Yet, even now, it is not too much to call him a great man and a visionary leader.
His legacy will be deep and wide. But what determines greatness? Is it the wealth one leaves behind? Is it fame? The historian HG Wells says, "A man's greatness is measured by what one leaves behind and whether he started others to think along fresh lines with a vigour that persisted after him."
We can not honour Sobukwe's memory in no better way than to resolve in our hearts to carry forward the message of self love, of courage, and of devotion he left us in every chapter of life and work.
In ending, I will refer to the old Harvard lines "[T]ime like an ever-rolling stream bears all its sons away." It does that, but they leave their contributions for others to build upon. To borrow the words of one of Maya Angelou’s poems, we can be. Be and be better. For Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe existed.
Undoubtedly, Sobukwe was inarguably an unforgettable personality. A true Pan African leader and hero. Izwe Lethu
* Dr Vusi Shongwe is the former head of the Department of the Royal Household. The views expressed here are his own.
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