Clarence Makwetu

Clarence Mlami Makwetu (6 December 1928 – 1 April 2016) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and leader of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) during the historic 1994 elections.^[1][2]

Anti-apartheid activity

Makwetu became involved in the 1952 Defiance Campaign, joined the African National Congress Youth League in 1954, and was part of the faction that broke away to form the Pan-Africanist Congress in 1959.

Makwetu was branch secretary in Langa during the 30 March 1960 pass laws march, immediately following which a state of emergency was declared, the PAC banned and Makwetu detained. He would be arrested numerous times after that; in August 1961, after which he was banished to the Transkei, and in September 1961 until February 1962, In April 1963 Makwetu was arrested again and sentenced to five years imprisonment on Robben Island, where he was a companion of Nelson Mandela.

He was detained without trial in June 1976 and held until May 1977, arrested again in July 1977 until November 1977, in July 1979 until October 1979 and finally in August 1986 until December 1986.

Elected leader of the Pan-Africanist Movement in 1989 (a front movement for the then still-banned PAC), he succeeded Zephania Mothopeng as leader of the PAC on 1 December 1990, after the organisation's unbanning in February of that year.

Political career

The PAC unsuccessfully argued during the Codesa negotiations that any settlement that did not tackle the land question was flawed, and this failure lead the party to be divided over whether to participate in the 1994 elections. Makwetu argued for participation, and ordered the party's military wing, the Azanian People's Liberation Army (Apla), to end its armed struggle, but with the party not fully behind the campaign, the party only won five seats in the historic first non-racial election.

Makwetu was unseated as leader in 1996, being accused of bringing the party into disrepute, and retired.^[3]

References