John Nyathi Pokela
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| John Nyathi Pokela | |
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Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress
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| In office February 1981 – June 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Vusumzi Make |
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| Succeeded by | Johnson Mlambo |
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| Born | 1922 or 1923 Herschel, Transkei, South Africa |
| Died | June 1985 Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe |
| Political party | Pan Africanist Congress |
John Nyathi "Poks" Pokela (1922[1] or 1923[2]–June 1985) was a South African political activist and Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Born in Herschel in the Transkei region, he was educated at Healdtown Comprehensive School and the University of Fort Hare. Originally a member of the African National Congress Youth League, he left the African National Congress and helped found the PAC in the late 1950s.[2]
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[edit] Incarceration on Robben Island
In 1966, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Robben Island on charges of sabotage related to the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the militant wing of the Pan Africanist Congress; he had founded the APLA (originally known as Poqo) in 1961, along with Clarence Mlali Makwetu.[3]
While incarcerated, Pokela worked towards uniting the various factions of the PAC. In 1980, having served his sentence, Pokela was released from Robben Island. In February 1981, he was unanimously elected to succeed Vusumzi Make, (who had resigned to make way for him,) to become head of the PAC.[1]
[edit] Chairmanship of the Pan Africanist Congress
[edit] Attempts at intra-party reconciliation
Once he assumed the position of chairman, Pokela set to work reuniting the PAC, which had been fractured since the 1979 Tanzanian-backed deposition of Chairman Potlako Leballo, leader of the party from 1962 to 1979. He held talks with the Azanian People’s Revolutionary Party (APRP), a short-lived offshoot of the PAC formed by members expelled by Leballo. Because of thie reconciliation effort, they rejoined in 1982 and the APRP disbanded.[1]
[edit] Support for Iraq
During the Iran-Iraq War, Pokela visited Baghdad, Iraq with a PAC delegation, and stated his support for Iraq. However, this was contrary to the position of the PAC, which was to not pick sides in a conflict between members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Pokela was criticized for this action by other members of the party, including Henry Isaacs and Mike Muendane. Iraq later sent 50,000 dollars to the PAC.[1]
[edit] Reorganization of the party
Pokela also attempted the reorganization of the party itself, which was suffering from both differences between various Central Committee members and differences between the leaders and the party members. He appointed outgoing Chairman Make to the position of Deputy Chairman, even though Make was being investigated for misuse of funds at the time, and increased the power of the Chairman. Pokela also encountered more opposition from Isaacs about his organizational changes (Isaacs eventually resigned.)[1]
Under Pokela, the use of funds was set, with 50% set aside for military operations, 30% going to adminsistration, and 20% used for propaganda; the idea of members submitting annual financial reports about their use of PAC funds was also floated. Nevertheless, money went missing at various points in time, and the PAC ran out of funds between March and November 1981.[1]
[edit] Death
Pokela died in Parirenyatwa Hospital in Zimbabwe in June 1985. He was buried in a state funeral in Zimbabwe officiated by Dr. Stanely Mogoba, a Methodist bishop, and was praised by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe for reuniting the PAC. Pokela was succeeded as chairman by Johnson Mlambo.[1]
[edit] Literature written by Pokela
- "Segregatory Bodies Must Go." Inkundla, Dec. 24, 1949. [4]
- "The Birth-Pangs of African Unity in the Sub-Continent" Manuscript, possibly written in 1962.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Kondlo, Kwandiwe Merriman (2004-01-01). The generation of strained intra-PAC relations in exile 1962-1990. In the twilight of the Azanian Revolution: the exile history of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (South Africa): (1960-1990) Chapter 4, pp 146-246. University of Johannesburg. Retrieved on December 25, 2006.
- ^ a b Gerhart, Gail M.; Thomas G. Karis (1977). John Nyathi Pokela. From Protest to challenge: A documentary History of African Politics in South Africa: 1882-1964, Vol.4 Political Profiles 1882-1964. Stanford University Press. Retrieved on December 25, 2006.
- ^ The Azanian People's Liberation Army Submission. Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Department of Justice and Constitutional Development). Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
- ^ a b Cooperative Africana Microform Project. Pan-Africanist Congress of South Africa 1944-1959. Cooperative Africana Microform Project Guide. Center for Research Libraries. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
| Preceded by Vusumzi Make |
Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress February 1981—June 1985 |
Succeeded by Johnson Mlambo |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Pokela, John Nyathi |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pokela, John "Poks" |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | South African political activist and Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1922 or 1923 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Herschel, Transkei, South Africa |
| DATE OF DEATH | June, 1985 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Parirenyatwa Hospital, Zimbabwe |
