Walter Sisulu

Walter Sisulu (google)

Walter Sisulu was born on May 18th 1912 in Engcobo Transkei and he died on May 5th 2003 in Johannesburg. During the 1930s Walter Sisulu dropped out of school at the age of 15 to find a job. He had many jobs, which included being a gold miner, domestic worker, and a baker. He was fired from his bakery job because he organized a strike for higher wages. He spent the next two years trying to start his own business in real estate. In 1940 Sisulu joined the ANC (African National Congress). He gained a reputation as a street vigilante, which is watching over the streets with a knife. In the early 1940’s Walter Sisulu was awarded with an executive post in the Transvaal division of the ANC. That is where he met Albertina Nontsikelelo, the two ended up getting married in 1944. Later that year Walter Sisulu was voted treasurer of the ANC. in 1952 Sisulu was arrested under the Suppression of Communism Act for nine months hard labor and suspended for two months with some of the other men he worked with. In 1952 he was also re-elected as secretary-general.

Walter Sisulu was the co-founder of the African National Congress Youth League and Umkhonto we Siswe. He strongly believed in people being treated equal, due to the discrimination and harsh treatment he had experienced throughout his lifetime. He also believed in fighting for the black independence in South Africa and his dedication was shown through his involvement ANC. Sisulu’s role hit a hard spot and in 1954 he resigned and started to work, but he worked in secret so that he would not end up getting caught and into any trouble. He wound up organizing a congress but the bad part was that he was not allowed to participate in it.

ANC logo (google)

Sisulu was a major contributor and leader in the fight to end apartheid for he orchestrated many boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience and he was also the founder of the ANC youth league. Sisulu was a courageous man and during his lifetime he spent 25 years in prison but this did not prevent him from fighting for the revocation of discriminatory laws. He was also an executive member of the ANC and after being released from maximum-security Pollsmoor Prison in 1989, he was awarded ‘Isithwalandwe Seaparankoe', the ANC's highest honor in 1992. Although Walter Sisulu encountered many punishments for protesting against apartheid his focus was never broken nor did he lose faith. While being sentenced to three years in prison Sisulu explained to the court that no punishment could force people to agree with apartheid and they would continue to rebel until the abolition of apartheid. He stated, "I wish to make this solemn vow and in full appreciation of the consequences it entails. As long as I enjoy the confidence of my people, and as long as there is a spark of life and energy in me, I shall fight with courage and determination for the abolition of discriminatory laws and for the freedom of all South Africans irrespective of color or creed."

African American Registery A NON-PROFIT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. .

"Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu." Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu. nd. Web. 1 Jan. .