Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, born on December 5, 1924, in the small, secluded town of Graaff-Reinet in South Africa, would go on to become one of the most significant figures in the country’s struggle against apartheid. His name, Mangaliso, which means “it is wonderful” in isiXhosa, was fitting, as he grew up to embody determination and resilience in the face of immense adversity.
The youngest of seven children, Sobukwe was raised by his parents, Angelina and Hubert, in a modest home without electricity or running water. While his mother had never attended school and could only sign her name with a thumbprint, his father, Hubert, had completed seven years of primary education before his family’s financial struggles prevented him from continuing his studies. Despite these setbacks, Hubert was determined to ensure that his children received an education. “Should God give him children, he would educate them all,” Hubert vowed, and he kept that promise. Three of Sobukwe’s siblings became teachers, and one was ordained as an Anglican bishop.
From an early age, Sobukwe showed exceptional promise in his studies. After completing his primary education, he had to wait two years before his parents could afford to send him to high school at Healdtown, a prestigious Methodist boarding school that Nelson Mandela also attended. At Healdtown, Sobukwe earned a reputation for his brilliance and mastery of the English language, impressing classmates and teachers alike.
Sobukwe’s academic path was not without challenges. At the age of 18, he fell seriously ill, coughing up blood, and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. His father considered bringing him home to die, but with the help of the school’s headmaster, George Caley, Sobukwe was able to receive medical treatment at a specialized hospital. After recovering, Sobukwe received a bursary from Healdtown, with Caley personally sponsoring him with books and pocket money. In his final year at Healdtown, Sobukwe was appointed head boy, delivering a memorable speech about cooperation between blacks and whites.
Despite his initial focus on literature and a contented life at Healdtown, Sobukwe’s trajectory changed when he enrolled at Fort Hare University at the age of 23. Fort Hare, South Africa’s only university for Black Africans at the time, had a rich history as a breeding ground for anti-apartheid leaders like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Govan Mbeki. Sobukwe, however, was not initially interested in politics. According to his classmate Dennis Siwisa, he was a “happy, contented person” with a deep love for literature. But it was at Fort Hare that Sobukwe’s intellectual curiosity and sense of injustice began to take root, eventually leading him to challenge the apartheid system that would define his life’s work.
This journey from a poor, rural upbringing to a leading voice in the fight against apartheid speaks to Sobukwe’s resilience, intellectual brilliance, and unwavering commitment to justice. His legacy, as the founder of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and a vocal critic of apartheid’s racial oppression, remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s struggle for freedom and equality.