Elias Motsoaledi
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Elias Mathope Motsoaledi
Early life
Elias Motsoaledi was born on 26 July 1924, the third of eight children, in
Upon his release he got a job in a furniture factory.
Activism
Trade union movement
Motsoaledi joined the
ANC and SACP
A lifelong member of the
Arrest and imprisonment
In July 1963 he was arrested at Liliesleaf Farm along with Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Denis Goldberg, Raymond Mhlaba, and Andrew Mlangeni. At the Rivonia Trial, all of the men and Nelson Mandela (who had been imprisoned earlier) were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.[3]
After 26 years on Robben Island, Motsoaledi was released from prison on 15 October 1989 along with five others.[4][5] During the July 1991 National Conference, Motsoaledi was elected to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC.[2]
Personal life
He married
He was paternal uncle to South African politician and minister Aaron Motsoaledi.[6][2]
Recognition
Motsoaledi received an
The Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo province was named after him.
Death and legacy
He died on 9 May 1994, the day before Mandela was inaugurated as the President of South Africa.
At Mostoaledi's funeral, Mandela spoke of him as follows:
We began our political careers as members of the ANCYL and comrade Motsoaledi was a member of the Communist Party of SA as it was then known. As the YL we were fiercely nationalistic in our approach and anti-White, anti-Indian and anti-Communist. We had many clashes in which he criticized us and at times attacked us viciously for what he considered very conservative and reactionary views.
But in that debate we learnt a great deal because when you debate issues of that nature if you approach that debate with seriousness and earnesty. At the end of the debate you find yourself closer to your rivals than you were before that debate.
Even during that time when we accepted the Communist Party of SA was committed to the very ideas to which the ANC and Democratic Movement in this country was fighting was established to achieve, Cde Motsoaledi was one of those members of the Democratic Movement who was non-conformist. He did not find it easy to agree with ideas unless he has considered them seriously and carefully. Comrades and friends, that has been and still is the strength of our movement.
References
- ^ People involved in the Revonia trial 1963 - 1964, Sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 16 August 2023
- ^ a b c d "Elias Motsoaledi".
- SAHRA. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Mzimhlope Rivonia Trial
- ISBN 978-0-813-16685-8.
- ^ "Elias Motsoaledi, Apartheid Opponent, 69". The New York Times. 23 May 1994. p. B 7. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
External links
- Elias Motsoaledi Profile.
- Death of Elias Motsoaledi at the Wayback Machine (archived October 2, 2000)