JEFF MASEMOLA
Imprisoned for Life
(Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1985)
Jeff Masemola was born in 1931 and is a member of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The PAC was formed in 1959 by a group of people who had broken away from the African National Congress (ANC) the year before. At that time, members of the PAC opposed ANC’s collaboration with other organizations in the Congress Alliance, and did not support the “non-racial” orientation embodied in ANC’s Freedom Charter. The PAC was more nationalistic, and felt that Africans could best negotiate with other groups only if they organize among themselves first, and built up a position of strength. One of the major protests organized by the PAC was the Sharpeville anti-pass demonstration in 1960. On March 21, 1960 the South African police killed 69 people who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration, arrested 20,000 and detained a further 2,000 without trial. On March 21, 1985, the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre, the South African police killed 19 people in Uitenhage who were taking part in a funeral procession.
Jeff Masemola was charged with 14 others in the Pretoria Supreme Court in June 1963 with conspiracy to commit sabotage. It was alleged that at a meeting in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria, plans were made to attack whites, and that the accused were acting under the influence of Potlako Leballo of the PAC. Masemola was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment which he is serving on Robben Island. Since 1968, he has been kept continuously in solitary confinement in the segregated cells, away from the other prisoners.
______________
The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.
Jeff Masemola was charged with 14 others in the Pretoria Supreme Court in June 1963 with conspiracy to commit sabotage. It was alleged that at a meeting in Atteridgeville, near Pretoria, plans were made to attack whites, and that the accused were acting under the influence of Potlako Leballo of the PAC. Masemola was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment which he is serving on Robben Island. Since 1968, he has been kept continuously in solitary confinement in the segregated cells, away from the other prisoners.
______________
The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.