White regime feared Sobukwe more

Solly Mapaila doesn’t know what he is talking about. If he thinks that Robert Sobukwe was favoured by the apartheid government and given a full house for being a political prisoner and not a terrorist, why did he miss his family?

Sobukwe was kept in solitary confinement on Robben Island, strictly prohibited from contact with other prisoners. His only contact with them were through secret hand signals while outside for exercise. Despite this, he successfully approved of the external PAC to adopt a Maoist political programme.

Sobukwe was subjected to this socalled “special treatment” because the apartheid government thought he was a more radical and difficult opponent than the regular ANC prisoners.

He was a strong believer in an Africanist future for SA and rejected any model suggesting working with anyone other than Africans, while defining Africans as anyone who pays his allegiance to Africa and is prepared to subject themselves to majority rule.

Sobukwe spoke of a need for South Africans to “liberate themselves” with the help of only Africans.

His strong convictions and resistance inspired many individuals and organisations such as the Black Consciousness Movement.

Lugisani Mutamani

Tshisahulu, Venda