Ahead of the 8 May National Elections you would do well to acquaint yourself with the Political Parties registered on the National level for the elections.
These political parties are contesting for seats in the 2019 National Assembly elections on 8 May 2019.
Please note you STILL need to go to the polls on 8 May 2019 and VOTE in person .........
Today we introduce you to: Pan Africanist Congress Of Azania – PAC
The PAC is one of the granddaddy political parties contesting the 2019 polls, having been formed in 1959 by a group led by Robert Sobukwe. The PAC was pushing for land redistribution before the EFF Fighters were in nappies, but like a number of other older parties, its influence has declined considerably in recent years. In 2014 it won just one seat in Parliament. The party has taken in-fighting to new levels: its current president is either Narius Moloto or Mzwanele Nyontsho, depending which faction you talk to, and its sole MP – former party leader Luthando Mbinda – was the subject of an attempted ejection from Parliament by his own party, via the courts. Moloto seems to be on top of the internal power struggle for now, and says his party is on track for at least 50 parliamentary seats after the May elections.
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) was formally launched on 6 April 1959 at the Orlando community hall in Soweto.
The founding executive consisted of Prof Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (President), Potlako Kitchener Leballo (SG), Zephania Lekoane Mothopeng (Legal affairs), ZB Molete (Publicity & Information), Abednigo B Ngcobo (Treasurer), Peter Molotsi, E Mfaxa, Peter Raboroko, Jacob Nyaose. With additional members Howard Ngcobo, Selby T Ngendane and Nana Mahomo.
All these individuals had played an imperative role in the political work of the Congress Youth League and millitarising the ANC.
PAC Notable events:
1959 – PAC is launched and adopt and implement Status Campaign in Orlando Communal Hall, Soweto. 1960 – March – 21st PAC embark on a massive national initiative, known as Anti-Pass Campaign which sadly result in a popular Sharpeville/Langa Day. 1960 – Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe is found guilty for his leading role in the massacre.
1961 – PAC is now banned for its militancy and radicalism 1962 Ntlonze Hill- Members of Poqo who were hanged in 1962 include Khathazekile Philaphi, Nkosinam Ngalo, Modi Mbizo, Zenzile May, Sqwayi Mhlaba and Goli Zanomzi, all from Cofimvaba. 1962 – November – 22nd – Paarl Revolt by Poqo 1963 – Poqo comrades were hanged, they are as follows: Fezile Jaza, Lennox Madikane, Tembile Nyovu, Johannes Notyawe, Fanele Matikinca and Jonathan Sogwagwa.
1963 Ntloze Hill Mtutu Apleni, the Commander of the group, Nothimba Mbozwana and Bonakele Ngcolongolo were executed and twenty were hanged due to Police acting out of information that Poqos had dangerous weapons.
1967 – Those who were already serving long sentences were hanged in 1967, they include leader of the Task Force, Baden Koboka, Edward Sikhundla, Jabavu Mzondi, Hans Gqibile, McDonald Mgweba, Magqadaza Magushe, Goduka Galem, Livingstone Fatyela, Wellington Tyobeka, Nkosencinci Maseti, Mteleli Ntuli and Leornard Zambodla. Proffesor Tom Lodge, an independent scholar contended that “the most insurgent organisation in the country was Poqo, the military wing of the PAC and Umkhonto we Sizwe, a sabotage wing of the ANC”. The two wings reflected in their different strategies, their fundamental ideological differences. The PAC insurgents were much more numerous than their counterpart. In terms of geographical extensiveness, the Poqo conspiracies represented the largest and sustained African insurrection since the inception of modern African political organisation in this country”. He further asserts that the perspective of this movement over relatively long time span and over a large geographic area, qualifies Poqo to lay claim to being the most sustained insurrection by black in this country in modern times. Plethora of hanfged political prisoners are PAC leaders and their monument today can reveal that in Pretoria, Mamelodi. How Prof was treated and other PAC leaders in prison tell the whole story. Robben Island was flooded by plethora of PAC leaders than any other movement. PAC have the longest served prisoner in this country, Jafta Kgalabi Masemola spent 28 years in Robben Island.
1976 – Notwithstanding the banned PAC, we masterminded and participated in the June 16 hence Uncle Zeph was prosecuted and identidfied accused No.1 in the longest political trial in Azania, otherwise known as Bethal Treason Trial or Bethal 18 Trial.
1978 – February – 28 Prof Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe passes on due “cancer” 1990-1993 – APLA launches “The Year of Great Storm” 1990- Present, we have been denied our freedom fighters who are still languishing in jail today.
1994 – PAC participated in the elections led by Mafrika Clearence Makwetu Notwithstanding the politics have changed and the approach also have to be relevant in respect with the atmosphere. The struggle of the PAC together with African descendants have always been about the land that was taken by force and blood. The struggle is about the dispossessed and means to seize all which belongs to him from the dispossessor. The struggle have always been to castrate colonialism and replace it with the self-determination of African descendants which have not been obtained until this day.
The PAC is continental in scope, socialist in ideology and spiritual in approach. We are of the view that the political struggle in Azania are reflection of what is happening in the entire mother Africa and to her children and that is still the case to this day.
The PAC has been described as leftist or ultra-racist while others have misinterpreted us as a terrorist group because we have always advocated a total liberation by Africans to Africans and declined any collaboration with the settler.
PAC Constitution: http://pac.org.za/2008-constitution/
This information is gathered from the IEC and the above party website or publicly available documents.
Click here to see ALL 2019’s registered national parties.
Alan Straton
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