John Nyathi Pokela
Encyclopedia
John Nyathi "Poks" Pokela (1922 or 1923–June 30, 1985) was a South Africa
n political activist and Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Born in Herschel in the Transkei
region, he was educated at Healdtown Comprehensive School
and the University of Fort Hare
. Originally a member of the African National Congress Youth League
, he left the African National Congress
and helped found the PAC in the late 1950s.
on charges of sabotage related to the Azanian People's Liberation Army
(APLA), the militant wing of the Pan Africanist Congress; he had helped found the APLA (originally known as Poqo) in 1961, along Z. B. Molete and Clarence Mlali Makwetu.
While incarcerated, Pokela worked towards uniting the various factions of the PAC. In 1980, having served his sentence, Pokela was released from Robben Island. In February 1981, he was appointed to succeed Vusumzi Make
, (who had resigned after the Chunya massacre in March 1980 when APLA troops refused to accept his leadership), to become head of the Tanzanian backed faction of the PAC. His leadership was rejected by the survivors of the 500 strong APLA Chunya force as well as the Maoist PAC factions in Zimbabwe, Libya, Ghana, and Kenya but Tanzania persuaded the Mugabe government to deport or imprison the major opponents (Leballo, Leeman, Gaelisiwe, Buqwana) .
n-backed deposition of Chairman Potlako Leballo
, leader of the party from 1962 to 1979. He held talks with the 70 member Azanian People’s Revolutionary Party (APRP), a short-lived offshoot of the PAC formed by members expelled by 1978 PAC National Executive meeting in Arusha. Because of this reconciliation effort, they rejoined in 1982 and the APRP disbanded.
, Iraq
with a PAC delegation, and stated his support for Iraq. However, this was contrary to the position of the PAC, which was to not pick sides in a conflict between members of the Non-Aligned Movement
, and Pokela was criticized for this action by other members of the party, including Henry Isaacs and Mike Muendane. Iraq later sent 50,000 dollars to the PAC.
Under Pokela, the use of funds was set, with 50% set aside for military operations, 30% going to administration, and 20% used for propaganda; the idea of members submitting annual financial reports about their use of PAC funds was also floated. Nevertheless, money went missing at various points in time, and the PAC ran out of funds between March and November 1981.
in Zimbabwe
in June 1985. He was buried in a state funeral in Zimbabwe officiated by Dr. Stanley Mogoba, a Methodist
bishop, and was praised by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
for reuniting the PAC. Pokela was succeeded as chairman by Johnson Mlambo
.
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 political activist and Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Born in Herschel in the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
region, he was educated at Healdtown Comprehensive School
Healdtown Comprehensive School
Healdtown Comprehensive School is a Methodist school located near Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. It was established in 1845 and assuming its current name in 1994, having been known for most of its history as simply "Healdtown"....
and the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
. Originally a member of the African National Congress Youth League
African National Congress Youth League
The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress.-Foundation:Its foundation in 1944 by Nick Gombart, Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African...
, he left 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...
and helped found the PAC in the late 1950s.
Incarceration on Robben Island
In 1966, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Robben IslandRobben 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...
on charges of sabotage related to the Azanian People's Liberation Army
Azanian People's Liberation Army
The Azanian People's Liberation Army was the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress in South Africa. It was originally called Poqo.-History:...
(APLA), the militant wing of the Pan Africanist Congress; he had helped found the APLA (originally known as Poqo) in 1961, along Z. B. Molete and Clarence Mlali Makwetu.
While incarcerated, Pokela worked towards uniting the various factions of the PAC. In 1980, having served his sentence, Pokela was released from Robben Island. In February 1981, he was appointed to succeed Vusumzi Make
Vusumzi Make
Vusumzi L. Make was a South African civil rights activist and lawyer. He is an ex-husband of American poet Maya Angelou; the two married in 1960, lived together in Cairo, Egypt for three years, and divorced in 1963...
, (who had resigned after the Chunya massacre in March 1980 when APLA troops refused to accept his leadership), to become head of the Tanzanian backed faction of the PAC. His leadership was rejected by the survivors of the 500 strong APLA Chunya force as well as the Maoist PAC factions in Zimbabwe, Libya, Ghana, and Kenya but Tanzania persuaded the Mugabe government to deport or imprison the major opponents (Leballo, Leeman, Gaelisiwe, Buqwana) .
Attempts at intra-party reconciliation
Once he assumed the position of chairman, Pokela set to work reuniting the PAC, which had been fractured since the 1979 TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n-backed deposition of Chairman Potlako Leballo
Potlako Leballo
Potlkako Leballo was an Africanist who led the Pan Africanist Congress until 1979. Leballo was co-founder of the Basutoland African Congress in 1952 and a World War II veteran and primary school headmaster.-Early Years:...
, leader of the party from 1962 to 1979. He held talks with the 70 member Azanian People’s Revolutionary Party (APRP), a short-lived offshoot of the PAC formed by members expelled by 1978 PAC National Executive meeting in Arusha. Because of this reconciliation effort, they rejoined in 1982 and the APRP disbanded.
Support for Iraq
During the Iran–Iraq War, Pokela visited BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
with a PAC delegation, and stated his support for Iraq. However, this was contrary to the position of the PAC, which was to not pick sides in a conflict between members of the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
, and Pokela was criticized for this action by other members of the party, including Henry Isaacs and Mike Muendane. Iraq later sent 50,000 dollars to the PAC.
Reorganization of the party
Pokela also attempted the reorganization of the party itself, which was suffering from both differences between various Central Committee members and differences between the leaders and the party members. He appointed outgoing Chairman Make to the position of Deputy Chairman, even though Make was being investigated for misuse of funds at the time, and increased the power of the Chairman. Pokela also encountered more opposition from Isaacs about his organizational changes (Isaacs eventually resigned.)Under Pokela, the use of funds was set, with 50% set aside for military operations, 30% going to administration, and 20% used for propaganda; the idea of members submitting annual financial reports about their use of PAC funds was also floated. Nevertheless, money went missing at various points in time, and the PAC ran out of funds between March and November 1981.
Death
Pokela died in Parirenyatwa HospitalParirenyatwa Hospital
Parirenyatwa General Hospital is the largest medical centre in Zimbabwe. Located in Harare, the hospital was formerly known as the Andrew Fleming Hospital, and was named after the principal medical officer to the British South Africa Company....
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
in June 1985. He was buried in a state funeral in Zimbabwe officiated by Dr. Stanley Mogoba, a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
bishop, and was praised by Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
for reuniting the PAC. Pokela was succeeded as chairman by Johnson Mlambo
Johnson Mlambo
Johnson P. Mlambo is a South African politician from Johannesburg.He served as the Chairman of the outlawed Pan Africanist Congress from August 12, 1985 until 1990, and served as Deputy President of the PAC from 1990 to 1994....
.
Literature written by Pokela
- "Segregatory Bodies Must Go." Inkundla, Dec. 24, 1949.
- "The Birth-Pangs of African Unity in the Sub-Continent" Manuscript, possibly written in 1962.