PAC FOUNDING MEMBER SERVED WITH PRIDE
BORN: November 25 1931
DIED: January 20 2017
FUNERAL: January 28 2017
BURIAL: Still to be confirmed
MOLEFI Johannes Tau belongs to the first group of ANC members who broke away to form the PAC.
The organisation was formed on April 6 1959 at Orlando community hall, Soweto.
Tau was a member of the Mofolo branch which at the time consisted of members like Boy Mkhwebane and its president Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, who was a neighbour of his. It made Tau feel special to be staying close to Sobukwe, a man who was revered for his intelligence.
Tau was the first-born child of Tshiu Hendrick and Mme Maseabata Anastasia Tau. He was born in 1931 in Tweespruit, Free State.
He began his education at St Francis Xavier Catholic School in Tweespruit where he studied until Standard 6. Thereafter he went to Wilberforce High School in the Vaal, where he completed “JC” (Junior Certificate, Std 8). He matriculated at Inkamana High School in Vryheid, KZN.
His diligence won him a scholarship from Kodak (photo processing company), and he furthered his education in the US in Hollywood radio and television.
Being a self-reliant person, he started a company called Afro Tech in Johannesburg, the name resonated with his love for the continent.
As an activist, Tau contributed in the struggle to reshape the political landscape of this country. He is one of many men and women who fought fearlessly for change.
In his youth he joined the Congress Youth League of the ANC, the forerunner of the ANC Youth League.
He was inspired and driven by the philosophy of Pan-Africanism preached by the group inside the Youth League known as the Africanists.
This group were led by Sobukwe, and were opposed to the Charterist group led by Oliver Reginald Tambo.
The Africanists came to an unanimous decision to abandon their ANC membership.
They wanted a new approach against the hostile, racist and unjust system of apartheid.
Tau saw the PAC as the last hope for the African population and and therefore heeded Sobukwe’s call for a breakaway.
Tau was a disciplined comrade who implemented orders from Sobukwe. He led the marches in Evaton, south of Johannesburg, during the anti-pass campaign which culminated in the infamous Sharpeville/Langa Day. Sobukwe had called on leaders to be in front and never hide behind the masses.
Tau played a central role in forming the PAC task team to respond to the bloody Sharpeville and Langa (in Cape Town) massacres.
Poqo was born out of this task team which was more dominant in the Eastern Cape. He came out of exile in Lesotho after 1994 and went to live in QwaQwa.
He was elected chairman of Free State Aplamva (veterans) in the late 1990s.
Tau died on January 20, during his most recent hospitalisation.
He is survived by his beloved wife Mamohau and son Kopanong, and siblings Ntaoleng, Mojalefa and Joseph.