Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1954 - 2013 (Accumulation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
10 boxes and 75 photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe was the founder of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in April 1959. He was instrumental in the PAC's anti-pass campaign, which was launched on the 21 March 1960, and which culminated in what was later to became known as the Sharpeville Massacre.
Robert Sobukwe was banished for his political activities and later sentenced to three years in prison. In order to be able to prolong his imprisonment, the South African Parliament passed a General Law Amendment Act called the "Sobukwe Clause". He was moved to Robben Island where he remained for 6 years in solitary confinement. He was released in May 1969 and banished to Kimberley.
Robert Sobukwe died on the 27 February 1978 from lung complications after a long illness. He was buried in Graaff-Reinet.
Name of creator
Biographical history
South African born Israeli author and journalist. He was the former Deputy editor of the Rand Daily Mail, which was forced to close in 1985, when he emigrated to London and eventually to Israel.
He was a close friend of Robert Sobukwe, founder and leader of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
Benjamin Pogrund reported extensively on Apartheid South Africa, for which he was put on trial and in prison. He is the author of the books "Sobukwe and Apartheid" and "How can man die better: the life of Robert Sobukwe".
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This collection was presented to the Historical Papers Research Archive by Benjamin Pogrund, former Deputy editor of the Rand Daily Mail and personal friend of Robert Sobukwe.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The collection gives an insight into the history of the PAC and black consciousness as well as providing a first-hand picture of Sobukwe, one of South Africa's greatest anti-apartheid figures.
It contains extensive correspondence between Sobukwe and Pogrund and Sobukwe and his wife Veronica, as well as photographs and publications, some of which were research material for Pogrund's book 'How can man die better...Sobukwe and Apartheid'.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Permission to use items from this collection for publication, must be obtained from Benjamin Pogrund and the Sobukwe family.
The photographs in this collection are subject to copyright and permission must be granted by Benjamin Pogrund or the photographers Ralph Ndawo and Peter Magubane.
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Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
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Related units of description
Publication note
Benjamin Pogrund is the auhor of the books "Sobukwe and Apartheid" and "How can man die better: the life of Robert Sobukwe".
Notes area
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Archivist's note
Some of the personal correspondence between Robert Sobukwe and his wife Veronica has not been published, as it is subject to approval by the Sobukwe family.