Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1964 - 1965 (Accumulation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
Form of materialLetters
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.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This small collection contains four original letters of Robert Sobukwe, written between November 1964 and March 1965 to Mrs Sally Spilhaus. She was at that time working as a secretary of the Defence and Aid Fund in Cape Town, IDAF, raising funds for the legal defence of political detainees. Robert Sobukwe at that time was a political prisoner on Robben Island. The exchanged letters touch on personal issues.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Alternate title: Sobukwe, Robert