The action that precipitated the 90 day detention rule and the clampdown in South Africa by the Apartheid government was the Paarl rising. Tony Hall broke the story of the P.A.C. involvement in the riot, the assumption of Potlako Leballo to the leadership of the P.A.C. replacing Sobukwe and P.A.C. plans for an uprising.
The story appeared on the front page of the Star newspaper on March 25 1963 (while his wife Eve Hall was still in Pretoria jail). Subsequently Tony Hall was banned from publication after a court case followed in which he was required to reveal his sources but refused.
Tony Hall comments on how he got the story:
"I took the call asking for a reporter to go and interview Leballo at his invitation. I went - and came back with this huge scoop."
The Star
Johannesburg Monday March 25 1963
DRAMATIC CLAIMS BY P.A.C. LEADER
------------------
Poqo rising this year, he says
From a staff reporter
Maseru, Monday.
[Picture of Leballo and Zacarias Molete and the caption: Potlako "P.K." Leballo (left) who claims to have assumed the leadership of the P.A.C., photographed yesterday outside his Maseru offices with one of his Lieutenants, Zacharias Molete. In the background is the Maseru Cathedral]
Potlako ("P. K.") LEBALLO, leader of the banned Pan African Congress - found by justice Snyman to be the same organisation as Poqo - claims more than 150,000 members.
He says an uprising will be launched "this year - our revolutionary council is discussing the time and the manner in which positive action will be launched. It is imminent."
Leballo said in an interview in his Maseru office yesterday that Mr. Justice Snyman was correct in finding that the P.A.C. and Poqo were synonymous.
But there had never been an organisation called Poqo. The word had been part of an Africanist slogan since the 1950s, and had become the byword of the underground P.A.C. since 1961.
There are indications that Leballo, official deputy leader of the P.A.C. is assuming full control. He said "Sobukwe is in jail. He knows nothing about our plans and activities."
Banishment
___________
Leballo went to Basutoland after being banished to Zululand . He served a two-year jail term after Sharpville.
Leballo and his lieutenants spoke with assurance yesterday of the organisations size and militancy. He indicated that there had been internal differences and lack of control - "because some centres think the leadership has been talking too long, especially in localities where conditions are bad."
Some cell leaders had not been strong enough to control members.
1,000 cells
_________
The "P.A.C. Poqo" organisation is strongest in the Cape with 64,000 members. The Free State is the smallest with 12,000.
The organisation is divided into 1,000 strong cells split up into smaller groups.
The killings at Paarl and Bashee Bridge were carried out by "angry and provoked" cell groups - in the face of opposition from P.A.C. leaders.
He prevented similar outbreaks in Welcom and at Kentai, in the Transkei.
He will give the signal for the revolt. All groups will be told at the same hour to attain certain objectives by violence, but until then, political killings will not have been approved or directed by the P.A.C. leadership.
He directs activities from the office of the African Agency in Maseru, but headquarters are "right in Johannesburg where the police will never find them."
He makes trips into South Africa for consultations with local leaders. He was in Johannesburg last month.
Sabotage
________
Leballo denied the P.A.C. received financial support from outside, particularly from Ghana. He said: "Whites, Liberals or Communists, had nothing to do with the outbreaks in the Transkei. In all P.A.C. publications Liberalism, Communism and the policy of the African National Congress were attacked.
"Umkhonto we Sizwe" (Spear of the Nation) and sabotage "have nothing to do with us. Those who embark on sabotage have not got the following for mass action. What are the use of these isolated explosions?"
Last -minute bid to avert Paarl riot - Leballo
From a staff reporter
THE CHAIRMAN of the Western Cape region of the Pan-African Congress went to Paarl on the eve of the riot there last year in an attempt to stop the killings, said "P.K." Leballo, leader of the P.A.C., in an interview here yesterday.
Leballo said the mood of PAC elements before the Paarl massacre was so fierce that they killed their local vice-chairman who tried to restrain them.
The chairman of the Western Cape Region "could not prevail on the Paarl element, and he sent a telegram to e while I was abroad at the end of last year. I was already in Cairo and I only found the telegram when I returned to Dar-es-Salaam - too late.
DISTURBANCES
A student who was expelled from Wilberforce Institution after the recent disturbances came to see him in Maseru. He tried to restrain the boy from action, but was told that the temper at the school was "too high."
Leballo said he received a Transkei delegation who said they intended to avenge the sentence of death on the tribesmen who killed the headman. He opposed the plan, but received a telegram that the group would go over the chairman's head. That was just before Bashee Bridge
He recently had to restrain a group of blanketed "Russians" in Welcome from violent action.
Leballo said his deputies said the mood is now so fierce because "we have captured the youth. They are our greatest pillar."
They accepted the ban on the P.A.C. because they could work on a more militant basis and could protect public servants and teachers who were members.
Leballo said it was becoming increasingly difficult to control local groups.
WITCHCRAFT
Leballo denied that witchcraft was practiced in the P.A.C. - Poqo organisation.
"Most Africans have tribal markings or traces of them from their youth. The oath of allegiance is simply the P.A.C. oath which members have sworn from the first."
Intimidation is also against policy.
"The thing is that our membership is very sensitive to 'sell outs' and informers. We forbid enforced recruitment because that way we get unreliable elements."
URGENT NOTE IN SPEECH
By the political reporter
A NOTE OF URGENCY was apparent in ministerial speeches at the week-end following the interim report on the Paarl riots.
Dr. Verwoerd and three senior ministers stressed the perils facing the country.
Dr. Verwoerd said South Africa was experiencing difficulties because of her "numerous enemies."
The minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Louw, said the outlook was darker than people thought. He said the country was, in the fullest sense of the word involved in a cold war.
NATIONALISM
The minister of defence Mr. Fouche, said the country was not "panicky or terrified" but calm because it was prepared. The Citizen force would help the police to defend local areas.
The minister of finance, Dr. Donges, spoke of Black Nationalism threatening South Africa.
These speeches were made against a background of preparation for possible trouble.
Local authorities and police services are taking security measures and at one large educational institution men have been told to be ready to defend women's residences.
Home guards have been formed in many towns, including those in the Transkei.
[...]
There are signs of increase police activity.
Comm.. Gen P. H. Grobbelaar has siad the defence force is preparing to act speedily in collaboration with the police.
Commandos and Citizen Force units can be mobilised almost immediately to help the police in the small towns.
The story appeared on the front page of the Star newspaper on March 25 1963 (while his wife Eve Hall was still in Pretoria jail). Subsequently Tony Hall was banned from publication after a court case followed in which he was required to reveal his sources but refused.
Tony Hall comments on how he got the story:
"I took the call asking for a reporter to go and interview Leballo at his invitation. I went - and came back with this huge scoop."
The Star
Johannesburg Monday March 25 1963
DRAMATIC CLAIMS BY P.A.C. LEADER
------------------
Poqo rising this year, he says
From a staff reporter
Maseru, Monday.
[Picture of Leballo and Zacarias Molete and the caption: Potlako "P.K." Leballo (left) who claims to have assumed the leadership of the P.A.C., photographed yesterday outside his Maseru offices with one of his Lieutenants, Zacharias Molete. In the background is the Maseru Cathedral]
Potlako ("P. K.") LEBALLO, leader of the banned Pan African Congress - found by justice Snyman to be the same organisation as Poqo - claims more than 150,000 members.
He says an uprising will be launched "this year - our revolutionary council is discussing the time and the manner in which positive action will be launched. It is imminent."
Leballo said in an interview in his Maseru office yesterday that Mr. Justice Snyman was correct in finding that the P.A.C. and Poqo were synonymous.
But there had never been an organisation called Poqo. The word had been part of an Africanist slogan since the 1950s, and had become the byword of the underground P.A.C. since 1961.
There are indications that Leballo, official deputy leader of the P.A.C. is assuming full control. He said "Sobukwe is in jail. He knows nothing about our plans and activities."
Banishment
___________
Leballo went to Basutoland after being banished to Zululand . He served a two-year jail term after Sharpville.
Leballo and his lieutenants spoke with assurance yesterday of the organisations size and militancy. He indicated that there had been internal differences and lack of control - "because some centres think the leadership has been talking too long, especially in localities where conditions are bad."
Some cell leaders had not been strong enough to control members.
1,000 cells
_________
The "P.A.C. Poqo" organisation is strongest in the Cape with 64,000 members. The Free State is the smallest with 12,000.
The organisation is divided into 1,000 strong cells split up into smaller groups.
The killings at Paarl and Bashee Bridge were carried out by "angry and provoked" cell groups - in the face of opposition from P.A.C. leaders.
He prevented similar outbreaks in Welcom and at Kentai, in the Transkei.
He will give the signal for the revolt. All groups will be told at the same hour to attain certain objectives by violence, but until then, political killings will not have been approved or directed by the P.A.C. leadership.
He directs activities from the office of the African Agency in Maseru, but headquarters are "right in Johannesburg where the police will never find them."
He makes trips into South Africa for consultations with local leaders. He was in Johannesburg last month.
Sabotage
________
Leballo denied the P.A.C. received financial support from outside, particularly from Ghana. He said: "Whites, Liberals or Communists, had nothing to do with the outbreaks in the Transkei. In all P.A.C. publications Liberalism, Communism and the policy of the African National Congress were attacked.
"Umkhonto we Sizwe" (Spear of the Nation) and sabotage "have nothing to do with us. Those who embark on sabotage have not got the following for mass action. What are the use of these isolated explosions?"
Last -minute bid to avert Paarl riot - Leballo
From a staff reporter
THE CHAIRMAN of the Western Cape region of the Pan-African Congress went to Paarl on the eve of the riot there last year in an attempt to stop the killings, said "P.K." Leballo, leader of the P.A.C., in an interview here yesterday.
Leballo said the mood of PAC elements before the Paarl massacre was so fierce that they killed their local vice-chairman who tried to restrain them.
The chairman of the Western Cape Region "could not prevail on the Paarl element, and he sent a telegram to e while I was abroad at the end of last year. I was already in Cairo and I only found the telegram when I returned to Dar-es-Salaam - too late.
DISTURBANCES
A student who was expelled from Wilberforce Institution after the recent disturbances came to see him in Maseru. He tried to restrain the boy from action, but was told that the temper at the school was "too high."
Leballo said he received a Transkei delegation who said they intended to avenge the sentence of death on the tribesmen who killed the headman. He opposed the plan, but received a telegram that the group would go over the chairman's head. That was just before Bashee Bridge
He recently had to restrain a group of blanketed "Russians" in Welcome from violent action.
Leballo said his deputies said the mood is now so fierce because "we have captured the youth. They are our greatest pillar."
They accepted the ban on the P.A.C. because they could work on a more militant basis and could protect public servants and teachers who were members.
Leballo said it was becoming increasingly difficult to control local groups.
WITCHCRAFT
Leballo denied that witchcraft was practiced in the P.A.C. - Poqo organisation.
"Most Africans have tribal markings or traces of them from their youth. The oath of allegiance is simply the P.A.C. oath which members have sworn from the first."
Intimidation is also against policy.
"The thing is that our membership is very sensitive to 'sell outs' and informers. We forbid enforced recruitment because that way we get unreliable elements."
URGENT NOTE IN SPEECH
By the political reporter
A NOTE OF URGENCY was apparent in ministerial speeches at the week-end following the interim report on the Paarl riots.
Dr. Verwoerd and three senior ministers stressed the perils facing the country.
Dr. Verwoerd said South Africa was experiencing difficulties because of her "numerous enemies."
The minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Louw, said the outlook was darker than people thought. He said the country was, in the fullest sense of the word involved in a cold war.
NATIONALISM
The minister of defence Mr. Fouche, said the country was not "panicky or terrified" but calm because it was prepared. The Citizen force would help the police to defend local areas.
The minister of finance, Dr. Donges, spoke of Black Nationalism threatening South Africa.
These speeches were made against a background of preparation for possible trouble.
Local authorities and police services are taking security measures and at one large educational institution men have been told to be ready to defend women's residences.
Home guards have been formed in many towns, including those in the Transkei.
[...]
There are signs of increase police activity.
Comm.. Gen P. H. Grobbelaar has siad the defence force is preparing to act speedily in collaboration with the police.
Commandos and Citizen Force units can be mobilised almost immediately to help the police in the small towns.
The reports ar3e substamtially correct. The PAC was a strong radical organisation in the late 50's when the ANC was looking like a heavily conservative organisation whose leaders did not want to confront the apartheid state in any fundamental way. They reneged on their 'Programme of Action' which the ANCYL wanted to pursue. So the PAC was formed after Ghana got its independence, espousing Pan African unity and the return of the land to the dispossessed.
ReplyDeleteThe break came in 1959 and then came Sharpeville. That massacre led to the PAC supporting armed struggle through its loosely organised POQO (We alone) wing. The ANC followed suit and formed MK and hasever sought to denounce the PAC and claim credit for its successes and policies.
PK was soon deposed as leader of the PAC when the police in lesotho got hold of a long list of members of the PAC. He went to Nigeria and tried to lead the fractued PAC from there but without success.
Costa,
ReplyDeleteBut I read Ronnie Kasrils book "Armed and Dangerous". The ANC were quite active weren't they. The other point is that the PAC was not a disciplined organisation, was it. And the Paarl riots were the perfect excuse to introduce 90 day detention because people were killed senselessly.
Isn't that always the way with agent provocateurs?
But is it true. Were there really 150,000 members in cells as Potlako claimed and if there were, why did the rising fizzle out.
I don't believe wikipedia, that it was because the PAC lost a shipment of arms from Ghana.
It's funny how growing up with all this around me and then as part of the atmosphere in Kenya and Tanzania, no one ever really taught me this history.
I wonder what kind of history people are learning in South African schools these days.
Did you know Sobukwe, Costa? Dad Said Robert Sobukwe was his Zulu teacher at Witz. He admired him greatly. Sobukwe had a very tragic end. Dad seemed very sad about what happened to Sobukwe.