One of the documents that I value is a testimonial letter by my school principal Mr Makhosandile Ndzuzo, written almost 26 years ago. I felt good after reading it, even though, I do not think I ever submitted it anywhere as I got a place at the University of Cape Town and a bursary through the Institute of Race Relations without applying for them. I kept it for all these years. It continues to give me confidence and I feel honored that he sees me in this way. Enkosi Gaba. We all need encouragement from time to time. A good word goes a long way.
Growing up in Mbekweni I got used to being associated with the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC/Poqo) when visiting other townships. This is because Paarl has been viewed as a PAC stronghold since the 1962 Paarl uprising that was led by that organisation. The history of the PAC struggles can not be told without mentioning Paarl 1962. That was when a mass uprising consisting of hundreds of men took place. They marched in the morning of November 22 from Mbekweni and Langabuya to town with the intent of attacking the police station and prison. The Late Minister of Justice in the ANC led government Dullar Omar recalled this event when accepting an award for Human Rights in 2004. Omar who, in 1963, was one of the lawyers who were to defend the men recalled that: “ The PAC was particularly active in Paarl. Suddenly hardly without any notice the so-called Paarl riots (the Poqo uprising) exploded on the South African scene. These poor migrant workers had had enough. They marched through
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