Leadership
 

Go Back National Chairperson Cindi , Zithulele Nyangana Absalom   1950: The story of my life on this earth began on the 18th August 1950 when I was born in a place called Alexandra Township to the north of Johannesburg that has never been regarded as part of “the northern suburbs ” because of its squalid , slum and run-down nature. 1957 – 1965 Started schooling in 1957 in Alexandra Township at a primary school, run by the Seventh Day Adventists(SDA) Church after a spell at the local Entokozweni Nursery School and finished primary school at another SDA School in Orlando West (Soweto). This was as a result of the forced removals [euphemistically called “resettlement”] from Alexandra Township in 1963 to Diepkloof in Soweto. 1966 –1967 Went back to Alexandra Township where I did my Junior Certificate(JC) education at the Alexandra Secondary School in 1967. 1968 – 1970 Matriculated from the Orlando West High School in 1970 after taking an extra year to complete my matriculation studies following my being arrested and sentenced to fourteen(14) days hard labour for failing to produce a “dompass” on the eve of my examinations in October 1968. It was also during this period that we got introduced to SASO teachings through an organisation for high school students called :the African Students Movement(ASM) which was later to be renamed the South African Students Movement(SASM). 1971–1972 After failing to raise money to go to university I then joined the ranks of the unemployed and did odd jobs starting as a clerk earning a princely wage of R12 per week at a civil engineering firm and later as a Laboratory Assistant. It was during this time that I reconnected with the Late Mthuli ka Shezi who was my senior at the Alexandra Secondary School. He recruited me into the Black People’s Convention(BPC) and I attended its first congress in December 1972 which he ,tragically, missed. 1973 - 1974 Appointed the Administrative Secretary to the BPC’s Secretary General, Sipho Buthelezi and this was shortly after the massive bannings of leaders of the Black Consciousness Movement(BCM) on the 3rd of March 1973. Later in the same year I assumed responsibility of running the national office after Sipho Buthelezi was also banned to Madadeni. And at its congress in December 1973 I was elected the secretary general of the BPC –the youngest office bearer of a political party then. On 25th September 1974 the BPC and SASO organised “Viva Frelimo ” Rallies countrywide to celebrate with the people of Mozambique on the ending of colonial rule by Portugal and the ascendance into power by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique(Frelimo). The Vorster/Kruger regime banned these rallies and hundreds of us were detained as a result. 1974 – 1976 After evading police arrest for a month and operating from a “mobile” office I was detained on October 25th 1974. Released from detention in March 1975 and put on trial together with other comrades from the Black People’s Convention(BPC) and the South African Students Organisation(SASO) under the Terrorism Act for daring to challenge the illegal regime and conscientising Black people. The late Steve Bantubonke Biko was the key witness for the defence in this Black Consciousness trial that was to be dubbed “the BPC/SASO 9 TRIAL” that ended in December 1976. The 1976 youth uprisings against the imposition of Apartheid rule on education, amongst other things, provided the backdrop to the testimony by Steve Biko at our trial. Sentenced in December 1976 to five(5) years and driven to Robben Island the next day at the back of a police van. 1976 -1981 Served sentence on the island and continued with the struggle by, amongst other things, embarking on a hunger strike to oppose having to work purposelessly at the lime quarry. This practice was stopped in 1977. Was denied further tertiary education studies in 1978(the same year my maternal grandmother passed away) till 1981 for having boycotted exams in 1977 in solidarity with student boycotts on the mainland. Released in December 1981. 1982 to date 1982 : Joined the Azanian People’s Organisation(AZAPO) where I served first as the vice-Chairman of its Soweto branch for two terms; Projects Co-ordinator; Secretary for Labour; Acting National Treasurer and currently National Chairman. Other employment-related engagements: 1986-1999 : Trade Unionist. Served as General Secretary and National Education Officer of a NACTU-affiliate. 1999 - Trade Union Investment Company(Unity Incorporation) that focuses mainly on socially responsible investments(SRI) and served as its Secretary, Public Officer, Educator(involved with Trustee Training). Holding directorships in various companies involved with Asset Management, Telecommunications, Productivity–enhancement and Corporate Governance Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Unity Incorporation. Father of six(6) and married to Nomonde Jafta. Go Back