Anton Lembede

Anton Muzibakhe Lembede
Born	21 January, 1914 Eston in KwaZulu Natal
Died	30 July, 1947 Johannesburg
Cause of death	Cardiac arrest
Nationality	South African
Occupation	Lawyer
Known for	first president of the African National Congress Youth League

Anton Lembede (21 January, 1914 – 30 July, 1947) was a South African activist- who was the founding president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He worked with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, wanting to reform the ANC which the Youth League 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 in 1947, aged 33. Lembed was regarded as the "Programme of Action" that was adopted as a guiding document by the 1949 meeting of the African National Congress. Mandela wrote that Anton "Lembede's views struck a chord with me .... I came to see the solution as militant African Nationalism."

Early Life

Anton Muzibakhe Lembede was born on the 21 January 1914 on the farm of Frank Fell in Eston near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Anton was the eldest of seven 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. He was given the name "Anton" by a priest at Eston. It was only when Anton turned 13 that he started his formal education at the Catholic Inkanyezi School.

Education

In 1933, Lembede enrolled at Adams College, which at the time, was one of the more prestigious “native” schools. Adams College was founded by John Dube who had been first president of the African National Congress. The school saw students coming from central Africa to enrol. Lembede enrolled for the “Native Teachers Higher Primary Certificate". As a student he was noted for dedication, his brilliance with languages and his family's obvious poverty. The latter resulted in him being avoided by other students. Lembede's views at the time were more practical than political and he wrote about the need for education and self reliance. This reflects the traditional view of his school that had been created by John ube after being impressed with the ideas of the American Booker Washington.

In 1936 after graduating from Adams College, he took up 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. Lembede finally registered for a Master of Arts Degree in Philosophy in 1943. His 1945 thesis was titled “The Conception of God as Expounded by, or as it Emerges from the Writings of Philosophers- from Descartes to the Present Day".

Career

Walter and Albertina Sisulu's wedding. Evelyn Mase is to the left of the groom and Lembede is to the right of the bride. Nelson Mandela is far left. Rosabella Sisulu looks out over the couple.

Lembede moved to Johannesburg after finishing his L.L.B and completed his articles at Pixley ka Isaka Seme’s law firm. Seme had been an President of ANC but he was no longer active and looked to Lembele to take over his firm when he retired. 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. In 1944 he attended the wedding of Walter and Albertina Sisulu. Also present was Nelson Mandela and Evelyn Mase.

Lembede lived in Orlando in Johannesburg with his intellectual partner A. P. Mda who he had met when they both aspiring teachers. He and Mda would spend their free time holding debating games which stood them in both stead. Lembede read widely and he would quote fascist leaders until Mda pointed out the racist policies that these involved.

ANCYL

Lembede was the principal thinker behind launching the African National Congress Youth League.( ) So in 1943 he led Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Jordan Ngubane, Ellen Kuzwayo, Albertina Sisulu, Lembede's friend A.P. Mda, Dan Tloome, and David Bopape to become the first elected general president of the ANC Youth League on 10 September 1944. The league wanting to reform the ANC which they described as 'a body of gentlemen with clean hands'.

Lembede spent a lot of his time creating the organisations's Manifesto whilst also being elected to be the ANC's Secretary in the Transvaal. The following year Lembede, Tambo and Sisulu went on the attack to defend their ideas of Afruican nationalism and they almost succeeded in getting the communists thrown out of the congress in the Transvaal. Possibly as a result both the ANC's National Executive seconded him to help them.

Lembede died suddenly in 1947. His cause of death was not announced but his family later said it was cardiac failure associated with a blocked intestine. He had intestinal problems during the 1940s and he had been given abdominal surgery in both 1940 and 1941. Lembede had a funeral with many notable attendees. Mda took over the Presidency on a temporary basis after Lembede died but he was elected to the position in time.

Legacy

Lembede's legacy is probably the "Youth League manifesto" policy document that he, Mda and Ngubane worked on for the Youth League. This document challenged the AMC to be more active and demonstrative and to set aside gentle debate. This document was to go on to be a leading policy of the ANC. The document recognised that race was an issue and that Africans needed to seize their inheritance. He rejected the idea of welcoming sympathetic white supporters. The collaboration with the patronising white leaders had resulted in discriminatory treatment. The gentle approach of ANC leaders like AP Xuma was not going to establish a major change in their lifetime. Lembede wanted African Nationalism. He had realised that history had been distorted by the "white leaders" and that you did not need to be white to lead. Lembede said "under the banner of Congress, African youth will triumphantly march to freedom – freedom within our lifetime".

Nelson Mandela wrote "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.” Mda said Lembede gave a "clear and pointed expression to the vaguely felt ideas of the age." Mandela later wrote that Anton "Lembede's views struck a chord with me ....I came to see the solution as militant African Nationalism."

In 1947 after Lembede's death the "Programme of Action" was agreed by the ANC under its new more militant President. Lembede was regarded as the architect of this important document. Mda arranged for the document to be adopted with only small changes by the next conference in Port Elizabeth and Oliver Tambo arranged that the new President of the ANC who would guide the 1949 ANC conference to adopt the Programme of Action as their guiding document.

In 2003 his bones were removed from Johannesburg and flown to Durban where they were reburied on 27 October 2002 at Madundube in Umbumbulu, Durban.

Work

• Freedom in Our Time: Collected Writings Of Anton Lembede