LIVING LEGACY

MILESTONE BIRTHDAY: Phumelelo Blow recently celebrated his 85th birthday at his home in Tantyi, Makhanda. Congratulating him is ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa. The Robben Island veteran’s 85 years so far have been full of rich and varied experiences, but he asked TotT to focus on his schooling and political history. Blow attended Nathaniel Nyaluza High School, at a time when it was the only secondary school available for black learners. The principal was respected educationist Benjamin Mahlasela and his English teacher was DD Siwisa. Having experienced the 1953 Defiance Campaign and being influenced by Robert Sobukwe’s visit to the school, he became involved in politics. In 1959 he was elected as youth organiser for the Pan African Congress. In 1962 he was fired from the Grahamstown law firm he worked for because of belonging to a banned political organisation. In 1963, he was arrested and sentenced to six years hard labour on Robben Island. He was released in 1969.