Govan Mbeki
Encyclopedia
Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki (9 July 1910 - 30 August 2001) was a South Africa
n politician
, and father of the former South Africa
n president Thabo Mbeki
and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki
. He was named in honour of Edward Govan, a Scottish missionary who founded Lovedale College
, the school that he attended in the Eastern Cape.
He attended Fort Hare University, completing in 1936 a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and psychology and a teaching diploma, and met other African struggle leaders there.
In 1954, he joined the editorial board of New Age
, which was to be the only South African newspaper serving the liberation movement for the eight following years. Mbeki played an immensely important role in ensuring that the pages and columns reflected the conditions of the black peoples, their demands and aspirations. In November 1962, the then Minister of Justice, John Vorster, banned New Age. When the editorial board came out with its successor, Vorster went one step further by banning not the newspaper but its editors and writers.
He was a leader of the African National Congress
(ANC) and of the South African Communist Party
. After the Rivonia Trial
, he was imprisoned for terrorism and treason (1964–1987) with Nelson Mandela
, Walter Sisulu
and other ANC leaders.
On June 26, 1980 the Secretary General of the African National Congress
, Alfred Nzo, announced the conferring of the Isitwalandwe Medal
, the ANC's highest honour, on Govan Mbeki. Mbeki was not present to receive the award, because he was serving a life imprisonment sentence on Robben Island
.
Govan Mbeki was released from custody after serving 24 years in the Robben Island
prison on November 5, 1987. He served in South Africa's post-apartheid Senate
from 1994 to 1997 as Deputy President of the Senate, and its successor, the National Council of Provinces
from 1997 to 1999.
Mbeki's remains were the subject of controversy in 2006 when plans were made to exhume them, and place them in a museum. These plans were called off after Mbeki's family refused the request. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1868179,00.html
Mbeki received international recognition for his political achievements including the renaming (at Mandela's suggestion) of the recently opened Health building at Glasgow Caledonian University
. The Govan Mbeki Health Building was inaugurated in 2001 at a ceremony featuring his son Thabo
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and father of the former South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n president Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki
Moeletsi Mbeki
Moeletsi Mbeki is a political economist and the deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs, an independent think tank based at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is the younger brother of former President Thabo Mbeki and son of ANC leader Govan Mbeki...
. He was named in honour of Edward Govan, a Scottish missionary who founded Lovedale College
Lovedale (South Africa)
Lovedale was a mission station and educational institute in the VictoriaEast division of the Cape Province, South Africa...
, the school that he attended in the Eastern Cape.
He attended Fort Hare University, completing in 1936 a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and psychology and a teaching diploma, and met other African struggle leaders there.
In 1954, he joined the editorial board of New Age
New Age (newspaper)
New Age was an influential leftist newspaper in Johannesburg operating from 1953 to 1962. It was formed with the co-operation of a number of left-wing groups in the area; New Age received the assets of the communist Jewish Worker's Club, which had been liquidated in 1948...
, which was to be the only South African newspaper serving the liberation movement for the eight following years. Mbeki played an immensely important role in ensuring that the pages and columns reflected the conditions of the black peoples, their demands and aspirations. In November 1962, the then Minister of Justice, John Vorster, banned New Age. When the editorial board came out with its successor, Vorster went one step further by banning not the newspaper but its editors and writers.
He was a leader of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) and of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
. After the Rivonia Trial
Rivonia Trial
The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.-Origins:...
, he was imprisoned for terrorism and treason (1964–1987) with Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, Walter Sisulu
Walter Sisulu
Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress .-Family and Education:...
and other ANC leaders.
On June 26, 1980 the Secretary General of the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
, Alfred Nzo, announced the conferring of the Isitwalandwe Medal
Isitwalandwe Medal
The Isitwalandwe Medal is the highest award given by the African National Congress . Isitwalandwe means “the one who wears the plumes of the rare bird.” It was customarily only given to the bravest warriors, those distinguished by their leadership and heroism.Past recipients...
, the ANC's highest honour, on Govan Mbeki. Mbeki was not present to receive the award, because he was serving a life imprisonment sentence on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
.
Govan Mbeki was released from custody after serving 24 years in the Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
prison on November 5, 1987. He served in South Africa's post-apartheid Senate
Senate of South Africa
The Senate was the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa between 1910 and its abolition from 1 January 1981, and between 1994 and 1997.-1910-1981:...
from 1994 to 1997 as Deputy President of the Senate, and its successor, the National Council of Provinces
National Council of Provinces
The National Council of Provinces is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the constitution which came into full effect in 1997...
from 1997 to 1999.
Mbeki's remains were the subject of controversy in 2006 when plans were made to exhume them, and place them in a museum. These plans were called off after Mbeki's family refused the request. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1868179,00.html
Mbeki received international recognition for his political achievements including the renaming (at Mandela's suggestion) of the recently opened Health building at Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
. The Govan Mbeki Health Building was inaugurated in 2001 at a ceremony featuring his son Thabo
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
.