Leadership
 

Go Back Deputy Secretary General Nontobeko Yawa Biography Nontobeko Yawa was born in 1953, of parents whose family originally came from King Williams Town and Grahamstown. Both parents grew up in Grahamstown but later moved to Cape Town where her father, Mlungisi, got a job as a teacher and was politically active in the Unity Movement. During the apartheid era, active teachers were victimised and many forced out of their jobs. As a result their family, returned to Port Elizabeth where the father worked as bus driver. The father struggled to improve the family wellbeing and finally got a posting to teach in Nigeria in 1960. As a result Nontobeko and her two brothers initially grew up in Nigeria. They lived there for six years and later were extradited to the United Kingdom during the Biafra War. With this background and isolation from her home country, Nontobeko developed a strong desire to return to Azania/South Africa. When she was 23 she returned to Azania/South Africa in 1977. She became appalled by the inhumanity of the apartheid system against Black people and dedicated herself to work towards the freedom of her people. She joined the Black Consciousness Movement in the UK in 1980, when and where the merger conference of the banned Black Consciousness Movement organisations took place. Her commitment has been steadfast and she has held the following positions in the organisation: 1980: Joined Black Consciousness Movement of Azania (UK Region) 1981-1985: Administrative Support/Organiser, BCMA (UK Region) (attained recognition of BCM at the London Borough of Lambeth, during the time when efforts were being made to silence its members and undermine its autonomy) 1986: Treasurer, BCMA (UK Region) 1987: Secretary, Secretariat on Women's Oppression (Central Committee, BCMA) 2006: Deputy Secretary, Gender & Women's Affairs Secretariat, Central Committee, AZAPO 2010: Deputy Secretary, Central Committee, AZAPO As part of her convictions she studied and qualified with a BSc in Environmental Sciences and went on to do an MSc in Rural Resources and Environmental Policy. She developed skills in administration and project management in order to be able to contribute to the development of Azania/South Africa in an effective manner. She believes that the Black Consciousness philosophy binds all black people and that Scientific Socialism is our only hope for complete freedom of mind, body and soul; and that these principles connect us to our traditions and our culture which we should thrive to re-instil in our youth and future generations, in order to rebuild our land and our economy. She says: "Until we as Black people believe in ourselves, love our Blackness unconditionally, and work together as one, we shall never be free! We accept all others who wish to live amongst us, but we must all be equals on this land of our forbearers" Go Back