Anton Lembede

Anton Lembede was a South African activist- who was the founding president of the African Nation Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He worked with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, wanting to reform the ANC which he described as 'a body of gentlemen with clean hands'. However, he never saw the eventual success of the black consciousness movement that ended with the South African black man winning his freedom; he died of illness in 1947, aged 33.

Early Life

Anton Muzibakhe Lembede was born on the 21st of January 1914 on the farm of Frank Fell in Eston, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Anton was the eldest of 7 children born to Mbazwana Martin and Martha Nora MaLuthuli Lembede. His father Mbazwana Martin was a farm labourer and his mother was a teacher. Anton was home-schooled by his mother who taught him to read and write until grade four level. It was only when Anton turned 13 that he started his formal education at Catholic Inkanyezi School.

Education

In 1933, Lembede enrolled at Adam’s college, which at the time, was one of the more prestigious “native” schools at the time, it saw students coming from as far as central Africa to enrol. Lembede enrolled for the “Native Teachers Higher Primary Certificate(later renamed T3).In 1936 after graduating from Adam’s College, he took up a few teaching posts but also pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in his spare time, he majored in Philosophy and Roman Law. Lembede enrolled at the University of South Africa for a law degree and subsequently completed it in 1942. In conclusion, he registered for a Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy in 1943. He then submitted his thesis entitled “The Conception of God as Expounded by, or as it Emerges from the Writings of Philosophers- from Descartes to the Present Day" in 1945.

Career

He moved to Johannesburg after finishing his L.L.B and completed his articles at Pixley K. Seme’s law firm. Briefly practiced law for a while. During this time he regularly met with Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo (who went on to establish the first black South African law firm), discussing how they must win their freedom.

ANCYL

Lembede was the principal thinker behind launching the African National Congress Youth Leaugue.( http://pzacad.pitzer.edu/NAM/newafrre/writers/lembede/lembedeS.htm) So in 1943, together with Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Jordan Ngubane, Ellen Kuzwayo, Albertina Sisulu, A.P. Mda, Dan Tloome, and David Bopape, he went on to become the first president of the ANC Youth League.

Nelson Mandela in his autobiography Long Walk To Freedom (1995):

“ Walter’s [Sisulu] in Orlando was a mecca for activists and ANC members. . . One night in 1943 I met Anton Lembede, who held master of arts and bachelor of law degrees, and A. P. Mda. From the moment I heard Lembede speak, I knew I was seeing a magnetic personality who thought in original and often startling ways. . .”

References

Robert Edgar, Anton Lembede and African Nationalism

(seminar paper)

Freedom in Our Time: Collected Writings Of Anton Lembede.

Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom

Black Atlantic

History For All (gr 11 textbook) South Africa since 1948 (textbook)