Former Eastern Cape education superintendent-general Harry Ranwedzi Nengwekhulu is one of the unsung heroes of the anti-apartheid struggle, who raised funds while in exile to support the campaign to ban Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in 1976.
Nengwekhulu was the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of the North (known as Turfloop) in 1968.
Under his leadership, Turfloop pledged solidarity with students from the University of Fort Hare when they protested against the refusal by the then rector to recognise the University Christian Movement (UCM).
The decision to support UFH led to Nengwenkulu’s expulsion.
“This sparked more anger among the students which fuelled more protests across campuses throughout the country. As a result in March 1973 myself, Steve Biko and Barney Pityana were banned by the then regime and forbidden from having meetings with one or more people at a time.”
Following their banning, Nengwekhulu became the first senior member of the black consciousness movement to leave South Africa. In September 1973 he crossed into Botswana.
“One of my responsibilities as an organiser was to try to politicise young people at high schools and universities. It was part of my job.
“So they used to contact me for guidance. Quite a lot of schools got involved,” he said.
Today marks the 40th commemoration of the 1976 uprisings which saw thousands of pupils marching in the streets, protesting against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.
“When I was banned, I continued to have links with them. When there was the explosion of the uprising, I was the first person they contacted,” said Nengwekhulu.
“We raised money through the Soweto Committee to fund their activities. We raised money with comrades in exile to ensure that the cause to ban Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in all schools succeeded.”
The money was used to help the activists with transport, as well as assist those who got arrested.
“Several lawyers represented them. I won’t mention them by name because most of us did this not necessarily for the public to know.
“There were two lawyers in the Eastern Cape, two in KwaZulu-Natal and another in Gauteng. Two of them are judges already,” he added.
Nengwekhulu, who now heads Unisa as dean of the school of governance, said they did all this underground, because none needed publicity, before or after the apartheid era.
Asked whether he thought today’s youth had followed in the footsteps of the youth of 1976, Nengwenkulu said as much as government had changed lives for the better, the burning of state property was disheartening.
“When we said burn, we burnt shebeens and bottle stores, which we strongly believed destroyed our people. You can’t compare that to what is happening today. Why burn schools, clinics if you want development?
“My generation, which fought during the colonial era, was never about burning universities or schools or clinics, because we wanted development.
“I don’t know what today’s generation learnt from the generation of 1976 – they burn laboratories when they want free education.
“When will this free education be provided if they destroy the little there is? I get angry because people sacrificed a lot. Mashinini died in exile but those who got the taste of this democracy … are destroying everything. I’m very angry,” said Nengwekhulu. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Hero of ‘76 slams today’s youth
Nengwekhulu was the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of the North (known as Turfloop) in 1968.
Under his leadership, Turfloop pledged solidarity with students from the University of Fort Hare when they protested against the refusal by the then rector to recognise the University Christian Movement (UCM).
The decision to support UFH led to Nengwenkulu’s expulsion.
“This sparked more anger among the students which fuelled more protests across campuses throughout the country. As a result in March 1973 myself, Steve Biko and Barney Pityana were banned by the then regime and forbidden from having meetings with one or more people at a time.”
Following their banning, Nengwekhulu became the first senior member of the black consciousness movement to leave South Africa. In September 1973 he crossed into Botswana.
“One of my responsibilities as an organiser was to try to politicise young people at high schools and universities. It was part of my job.
“So they used to contact me for guidance. Quite a lot of schools got involved,” he said.
Today marks the 40th commemoration of the 1976 uprisings which saw thousands of pupils marching in the streets, protesting against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.
“When I was banned, I continued to have links with them. When there was the explosion of the uprising, I was the first person they contacted,” said Nengwekhulu.
“We raised money through the Soweto Committee to fund their activities. We raised money with comrades in exile to ensure that the cause to ban Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in all schools succeeded.”
The money was used to help the activists with transport, as well as assist those who got arrested.
“Several lawyers represented them. I won’t mention them by name because most of us did this not necessarily for the public to know.
“There were two lawyers in the Eastern Cape, two in KwaZulu-Natal and another in Gauteng. Two of them are judges already,” he added.
Nengwekhulu, who now heads Unisa as dean of the school of governance, said they did all this underground, because none needed publicity, before or after the apartheid era.
Asked whether he thought today’s youth had followed in the footsteps of the youth of 1976, Nengwenkulu said as much as government had changed lives for the better, the burning of state property was disheartening.
“When we said burn, we burnt shebeens and bottle stores, which we strongly believed destroyed our people. You can’t compare that to what is happening today. Why burn schools, clinics if you want development?
“My generation, which fought during the colonial era, was never about burning universities or schools or clinics, because we wanted development.
“I don’t know what today’s generation learnt from the generation of 1976 – they burn laboratories when they want free education.
“When will this free education be provided if they destroy the little there is? I get angry because people sacrificed a lot. Mashinini died in exile but those who got the taste of this democracy … are destroying everything. I’m very angry,” said Nengwekhulu. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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