Raymond Mhlaba (February 12, 1920-February 20, 2005) was an anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC). February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... The African National Congress (ANC) is a center-left political party, and has been South Africas governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. ...

ANC file photo of Raymond Mhlaba

Mhlaba spent 25 years of his life in prison. Well known for being sentenced, along with Nelson Mandela, in the Rivonia Trial, he was an active member of the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) all his adult life. His kindly manner brought him the nickname "Oom Ray". Image File history File links Raymond Mhlaba ANC photo From ANC website at http://www. ... Image File history File links Raymond Mhlaba ANC photo From ANC website at http://www. ... President Nelson Mandela, 1995-1999 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, OM OC, (born 18 July 1918) was the first democratically-elected President of South Africa. ... The Rivonia Trial was an infamous trial which took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to ferment violent revolution. Origins It was named after Rivonia, the suburb of Johannesburg where 19... The South African Communist Party (SACP) was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa. ...

Early life

He was born in Mazoka village in the Fort Beaufort district and was educated at Healdtown secondary school. He started working at a laundry in Port Elizabeth after leaving school. There he was introduced to trade unionism through the Non European Laundry Workers Union. In 1943 he joined the South African Communist Party, and in 1944 became a member of the African National Congress. He met and married his first wife, Joyce Meke, who was also from the Fort Beaufort area. In their 17 years together, before her death in a car accident in 1960, they had three children. Port Elizabeth is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, at 33°58′ S 25°36′ E. The city is located on Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. ... 1943 is a common year starting on Friday. ... The South African Communist Party (SACP) was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The African National Congress (ANC) is a center-left political party, and has been South Africas governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. ...

He was one of the ANC leaders arrested during the transport boycott of 1952 when he led a group of volunteers into the "Europeans Only" entrance of the New Brighton police station in Port Elizabeth. 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Port Elizabeth is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, at 33°58′ S 25°36′ E. The city is located on Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. ...

He was the district secretary of the Communist Party from 1946 until it was banned in 1950. He was chairman of the Port Elizabeth branch of the ANC from 1947 to 1953, and was then elected to the Cape Executive committee. 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Port Elizabeth is a city in South Africa, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, at 33°58′ S 25°36′ E. The city is located on Algoa Bay, and is one of the major seaports in South Africa. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

After the ANC was banned he joined other exiles in obtaining military training in China. Returning to South Africa in 1962, he commanded Umkhonto we Sizwe until 1963, when he was arrested along with other key members at a farm in Rivonia. 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) (Spear of the Nation) was the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Rivonia Trial

He was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial, and served time on Robben Island. In 1982 he was transferred to Pollsmoor. By special permission he married his common-law wife Dedika Heliso in 1986, with whom he had three children. The Rivonia Trial was an infamous trial which took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to ferment violent revolution. Origins It was named after Rivonia, the suburb of Johannesburg where 19... Prison Buildings on Robben Island Cape Town, False Bay (top) and Table Bay with Robben Island (right) from space, February 1995 Robben Island (Dutch for seal island) is an island 12 km off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa located in Table Bay at 33. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Nelson Mandela was a witness at the ceremony, conducted in the prison commandant's office. Afterwards Mhlaba was legally permitted to touch his wife for the first time in 22 years.

Release from prison

After his release from prison in October 1989, he was elected to the ANC national executive and the South African Communist Party central committee. He became national chairperson of the SACP in 1995. 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In January 1994 he was chosen as the ANC's premier-designate for a unified Eastern Cape. He helped to establish the house of traditional leaders. He then became the High Commissioner to Uganda and Rwanda, until he retired in 2001. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey Dr. Dre 2001 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In April 2001 he released a book of his memoirs, narrated by him and researched and compiled by Thembeka Mafumadi.

He was chairperson of a black economic empowerment consortium involved in the Coega port project, but suffered a stroke on July 19, 2003, recovering quickly. July 19 is the 200th day (201st in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 165 days remaining. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

He is seen as a stalwart member of both the ANC and the SACP. He was recognised with the Isitwalandwe Award in 1992 for his role in the liberation struggle, and the Moses Kotama Award in 2002 for his contribution to the SACP. 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Death

In 2004 Mhlaba was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer, and in December doctors discharged him from a private clinic saying there was nothing they could do for him. On February 20, 2005 he died in hospital. Mhlaba is survived by his wife, three sons and five daughters. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

External links

Obituary