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.