We're still remembering Sharpeville? This massacre was the tipping point that led to armed struggle. The Pan Africanist Congress launched its military wing on this day in 1961. Nomvo Booi was the first woman to join Poqo which later became APLA. I want to talk about her.

Born and raised in Butterworth, umama studied dressmaking and later joined the ANC. She was among the Africanists who disagreed with the Freedom Charter. And on this premise joined the PAC under the leadership of Robert Sobukwe.

So the PAC is launched in 1959. Sharpeville and Langa Massacres happen in 1960 and a state of emergency follows. All liberation movements are banned now. We also need to talk about the many women who were jailed during the state of emergency of 1960, women like Josie Mpama, soon.

By this time umama is the regional secretary for the PAC in (what was then) the Transkei and a lot of her activities were carried out there. The Eastern and Western Cape were a massive stronghold of the PAC during the struggle.

Poqokazi, as she was known becomes the first woman arrested eNgcobo for underground activities in 1963 after raid. She was charged months after her initial arrest under the Suppression of Communism Act. She was detained in three prisons: Baberton, Nylstrom, Kroonstad.

She serves her sentence & is released in 1969. She goes into exile first to Lesotho, then Tanzania and then Zimbabwe where she received military training and headed up the welfare section. She also organized Sobukwe's tombstones unveiling in 1979.

When the PAC obtained observer status in the UN general assembly, she was of those who attended on it's behalf. Another prominent figure in the movement who did this was David Sibeko.

Poqokazi returned to South Africa in 1992. The last years of her life were spent eMonti where she passed away on 7 May 2016 9 days shy of her 87th birthday.

Fortunately she wrote her memoir. Unfortunately I haven't seen it anywhere (very disappointing). She also personally delivered PAC archives to Fort Hare where they are locked up for the next 50 or so years. I don't like that. The PAC must reconsider this decision. We want to see.

Here's some further reading thanks to Jaki Seroke who cites more women who were part of APLA. The PAC must please givery us access to the archive so we can flash out their contributions. https://mayihlomenews.co.za/in-loving-memory-of-a-revolutionary-mam-nomvo-booi/

Here's the most recent writing on Mam' Nomvo thanks to Zaza Hlalethwa. Only two pieces of public writing. We should be ashamed honestly. https://www.google.com/amp/s/mg.co.za/article/2018-08-10-00-nomvo-poqokazi-booi-a-mother-of-the-struggle/%3famp

I want us to return to this image. Umama said no to camouflage and came through dripping in monochrome