|
In defence of the Prof
02/04/2007 08:52 - (SA)
Jon Qwelane
I have been taken to task by some readers who, pardon their ignorance, believe the kind of propaganda that was often repeated by the SABC and, even though officially and publicly denied, was nonetheless pushed forward with zeal.
Last week I wrote about the late great Prof Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe, a man I greatly admired and whose teachings continue to inspire me and a great many other people.
To me, Sobukwe represented the proverbial "promised Messiah".
I have neither apology nor misgivings about saying it out loud that I consider myself one of his many loyal and disciplined disciples, and it was a huge pity that death robbed us of him at such an awkward yet crucial moment of our struggle for liberation.
Some of those who sent me their comments last week demonstrated clearly that the propaganda of particularly the decade preceding the 1990s got thoroughly through to them, and they believed it.
They wondered why I could sing the praises of "the man who coined the 'one settler-one bullet' slogan".
As I have stated, I do not owe anyone any apology for being an ardent believer in everything that Prof stood for.
I will set the record straight by making just three points which will, hopefully, settle this non-matter quickly and for good.
Don't give him the 'credit'
Firstly, the slogan was never party policy but was used by guerrillas in the bush, gaining favour with them after they read it in their publication, Azania Combat.
Secondly, party leaders never debated nor adopted the slogan as the official party line.
Thirdly, Prof was dead for at least 15 years when the slogan first gained currency. So the claim that he "coined" it is patently false.
In 1988 I was among a group of people who flew to Harare to meet the exiled PAC leadership during a two-day meeting.
No one shouted the slogan among the many chants that were often uttered during the gathering.
Later, over drinks in the evening with the commander of the Apla forces, the late Sabelo Phama, I asked about the slogan because I did not know it among those normally used at rallies and other gatherings, and he told me troops had adopted the phrase after it was first used in a letter written by a reader to the editor of Azania Combat.
I find it curious yet tragically ironic that among those having the loudest mouths about the slogan are people who never hesitated to support our suppression and dehumanisation by constantly voting for the murderous oppressors.
Prof mistrusted liberal white politics and loathed communism - in fact, he had no truck with either - but he never coined any slogan calling for the settlers to be given the bullet.
Jon Qwelane's column is published each week on News24, courtesy of Jon Qwelane and the editor of Sunday Sun, which originally carried the article.
Send your comments to Jon.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
- Sunday Sun
|
