Jan Khumalo
Ngesikhathi uRobert Sobukwe ehola imashi yababhikishi abambalwa eya esiteshini samaphoyisa e-Orlando mhla zingama-21 kuNdasa kowe-1960, wayesevele eqanjwe igama lesidlaliso elithi “Prof” ngenxa yakho konke ayesekuzuzile njengomfundi. Wayaziwa futhi njengesikhulumi esasihlakaniphile.
Kodwa ngaleso sikhathi wayesevele ezidonsele amehlo kuhulumeni wobandlululo ngenxa yokweseka kwakhe i-Defiance Campaign ngowe-1952 kanye nezinye izenzo eziningi ayevelele kuzo. Ngowe-1959 wayeseshiyile ku-ANC wasungula i-PAC.
Ngesikhathi enikeza ngamabomu amaphoyisa obandlululo u-dompas wakhe, ekhombisa ukuthi wephule imithetho yamapasi ngokuba sendaweni lapho ayengavunyelwe ukuba kuyo, waboshwa ngokusemthethweni futhi wavalelwa esitokisini samaphoyisa.
Ngaso leso sikhathi, esiteshini samaphoyisa esincane esinothuli esasiseningizimu ye-Vaal e-Sharpeville, kwenzeka enye yezinhlekelele enkulu ngesikhathi sobandlululo.
Amaphoyisa avulela ngenhlamvu, kwashona abantu abangama-69 abebebuthene bebhikishela imithetho yamapasi. Bangmam-249 abalimala sebebonke okuhlanganisa nezingane ezingama-29. Abaningi abalimela badutshulwa emhlane.
USobukwe wagwetshwa iminyaka emithathu ebhadla ejele ngecala lokugqugquzela umphakathi wabe esethunyelwa e-Robben Island. Ngalokho okwaziwa njenge- “Sobukwe Clause”, uNgqongqoshe Wezobulungiswa wahlela ukwelula isikhathi sesiboshwa ngeminyaka eyisithupha ngaphandle kokuthethwa kwecala.
USobukwe wayengumlandeli oqinile wombono wama-Afrika wenkululeko eNingizimu Afrika. Wayephikisana nokusebenza nabamhlophe, kanye namakhomanisi. Waveza ukuthi abelungu kumele bakhishwe kwi-ANC, eyayithonywe kakhulu ngamakhomanisi amhlophe.
Ekhishwe ejele ngowe-1969, wachitha impilo yakhe yonke eboshelwe endlini e-Kimberley, idolobha elaliqhelile nezindawo eziningi, okwenza kwaba nzima kuye ukukhuthaza imisebenzi yezepolitiki ngenxa yendawo ayegadwe kuyo.
Ngowe-1977, walaliswa esibhedlela ngenxa yomdlavuza wamaphaphu kodwa isicelo sokumkhulula emikhawulweni ngenxa yokungaphili kahle sanqatshwa. Washona ngowe-1978 wabe esengcwatshwa edolobheni azalelwa kulo, e-Graaff-Reinet.
Umthombo wesithombe: Robert Sobukwe Trust – umhlaka-21 kuNdasa kowe-1960