UPM Joins Millions of South African in mourning Dr Aubrey Mokoape's death.

[UPM media]

Sunday, 27 December 2020

Press Statement from the Unemployed People’s Movement

Dr Nchaupe Aubrey Mokoape was a Giant of the Struggle

The Unemployed People’s Movement dips its revolutionary banner in honour of Dr Nchaupe Aubrey Mokoape, a giant of the struggle for socialism and the redistribution of land and wealth.

The incredible story of Dr Mokoape is well known. At the age of 13 he was a trusted comrade of Robert Sobukwe. At the age of 15 he was charged with terrorism and faced his first jailed sentence. He was a major influence on the generation of black students, led by Steve Biko, that founded the Black Consciousness Movement. Later on, after the Pro-Frelimo Rally in 1974 he and eight other comrades went on trial. Dr Mokoape was sentence to six years on Robben Island.

Dr Mokoape changed the course of the black struggle in South Africa. He was a great and honourable man who believed that the system of racism and capitalism and the bulkanisation of our country into ethnic cocoons had to be destroyed in furtherance of the interests of the working class, the unemployed and poor.

In a time when the ANC is rotten from top to bottom, when the ANC has grossly mishandled the Covid 19 pandemic which has mowed down thousands of our people and cost millions of jobs, and craven opportunists abuse the history of the Black Consciousness Movement to defend the corruption of the ruling party, Dr Mokoape stands as a shining beacon of courage and integrity. 

Dr. Mokoape provided ongoing solidarity with the UPM. He would give us advice, discuss issues that arose and provide input into the discussion of various ideas within our movement. He journeyed with us through the course of our struggle. When we asked him to come and meet with the students when the student struggle was running hot he did hesitate and he engaged in long and patient discussions with the students.

Dr. Mokoape rejected the sectarianism, thuggery and general gutter politics of some individuals claiming to be on the left with utter contempt. He stood by us when we were under attack. He always stuck to a principled politics.

When the Covid situation permits the UPM will be sure to hold a memorial service and a discussion to honour the great legacy of Dr Mokape, and to transmit his ideas to a younger generation. 

Hamba kahle Qhawe lama qhawe. 

Ayanda Kota 078 625 6462

Sikhumbuzo Soxujwa 803 810 0522