Dan Mokonyane
Encyclopedia
Dan Mokonyane was a South African political revolutionary and (in exile) writer
and legal academic. Latterly residing in London
, he was best known for his leadership during the 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
, one of the most successful single-issue campaigns undertaken during Apartheid.
, in Limpopo province. After being expelled from Khaiso Secondary School for being politically argumentative, he moved to Johannesburg
in order to attend high school in Western Native Township. He later majored in economics and philosophy at the University of Witwatersrand.
During his time at school, Mokonyane joined the Society of Young Africans (SOYA), a group aligned to the Non-European Unity Movement. He later left SOYA to join the Movement For a Democracy of Content
.
When the 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
was announced, in protest against the local bus company’s attempt to raise its fares, Mokonyane joined the boycott committee as Publicity Secretary and then later as the Secretary of the Organizing Committee.
He was frequently arrested and imprisoned during the campaign against the pass laws
. In 1960, after the Sharpeville Massacre
, he was served with a Banishment Order from Alexandra township and fled from South Africa
to the United Kingdom
. He was appointed to a research position at the School of Oriental and African Studies
in the University of London
. He then studied for a law degree at the University of London
, obtained a higher degree in human rights at the University of Kent
and researched in planning law at the University of Wales
. He eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Law at Middlesex University
in North London, specialising in Jurisprudence. Despite increasing illness, he last visited South Africa in 2009.
(and others) to translate the removal of Apartheid into improving the lot of the masses.
, including his nephew the guitarist Lucky Ranku. Mokonyane's wife, Sue, predeceased him; he is survived by his partner, Mary. A memorial service for him was held in London and he was buried with a traditional funeral in Mahwelereng
, where a brother and two sisters live.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and legal academic. Latterly residing in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was best known for his leadership during the 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
The 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest undertaken against the Public Utility Transport Corporation by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg....
, one of the most successful single-issue campaigns undertaken during Apartheid.
Political activism and professional life
Mokonyane was born in 1930 in Mothlabaneng, near MahwelerengMahwelereng
Mahwelereng is a township in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is about 2 km from Mokopane, formerly known as Potgietersrus. It was one of the creations of the South African Apartheid policies in the former homeland of Lebowa. Most of the original residents of Mahwelereng were from an area...
, in Limpopo province. After being expelled from Khaiso Secondary School for being politically argumentative, he moved to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in order to attend high school in Western Native Township. He later majored in economics and philosophy at the University of Witwatersrand.
During his time at school, Mokonyane joined the Society of Young Africans (SOYA), a group aligned to the Non-European Unity Movement. He later left SOYA to join the Movement For a Democracy of Content
The Movement For a Democracy of Content
The Movement for a Democracy of Content was a revolutionary political organisation active from the late 1940s to the early 1970s in the US, in Germany the last issue of Dinge der Zeit, appeared in August 1997 ....
.
When the 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott
The 1957 Alexandra Bus Boycott was a protest undertaken against the Public Utility Transport Corporation by the people of Alexandra in Johannesburg....
was announced, in protest against the local bus company’s attempt to raise its fares, Mokonyane joined the boycott committee as Publicity Secretary and then later as the Secretary of the Organizing Committee.
He was frequently arrested and imprisoned during the campaign against the pass laws
Pass laws
Pass laws in South Africa were designed to segregate the population and limit severely the movements of the non-white populace. This legislation was one of the dominant features of the country's apartheid system. The Black population were required to carry these pass books with them when outside...
. In 1960, after the Sharpeville Massacre
Sharpeville massacre
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on 21 March 1960, at the police station in the South African township of Sharpeville in the Transvaal . After a day of demonstrations, at which a crowd of black protesters far outnumbered the police, the South African police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69...
, he was served with a Banishment Order from Alexandra township and fled from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was appointed to a research position at the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
in the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He then studied for a law degree at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, obtained a higher degree in human rights at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
and researched in planning law at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. He eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Law at Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
in North London, specialising in Jurisprudence. Despite increasing illness, he last visited South Africa in 2009.
Publications
Mokonyane published two books. Lessons of Azikwelwa: the Bus Boycott in South Africa (1979) is a first-hand account of the Alexandra Bus Boycott. The Big Sell Out (1994) is a vehement critique of what Mokonyane saw as a contemptible failure by the Communist Party of South Africa and the African National CongressAfrican National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(and others) to translate the removal of Apartheid into improving the lot of the masses.
Personal life
While in London, Mokonyane mixed closely with South African musicians in exile, such as JabulaJabula
Jabula was a musical ensemble made of South African musicians "exiled" in England during the Apartheid Era.Under Apartheid, traditional African music was largely banned from radio and even private play, and groups who performed it were often forced into exile. The four members that became Jabula...
, including his nephew the guitarist Lucky Ranku. Mokonyane's wife, Sue, predeceased him; he is survived by his partner, Mary. A memorial service for him was held in London and he was buried with a traditional funeral in Mahwelereng
Mahwelereng
Mahwelereng is a township in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is about 2 km from Mokopane, formerly known as Potgietersrus. It was one of the creations of the South African Apartheid policies in the former homeland of Lebowa. Most of the original residents of Mahwelereng were from an area...
, where a brother and two sisters live.