Zephania Mothopeng

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Zephania Lekoane Mothopeng

Zephania Mothopeng was born on September 10, 1913 in Free State near the town of Vrede. Shortly after Zephs birth family led by his father picked up their belongings and moved to Transvaal. After landing here the family staid and Zeph got all of his formal education at the St. Mary’s Anglican school and then went to St. Chatswold Training College. In 1933 Zephania moved to Johannesburg to continue his formal education in 1937. Upon working a short time in Johannesburg Zeph enrolled in a new college in Amansimtoti, Natal called Adams College. There at this place and college completing his studies he was awarded a post metric teachers certification. Mr. Mothopeng although having been formally trained as an educator was to most remembered as a South African political activist.

Zeph’s political career began in the 1940’s when he was a member of the African National Youth League. He later affiliated with the party’s Africanist section, which was a critical partnership with whites and liberals. In 1959 the Africanist broke away from the A.N.C. to form the Pan Africanist Congress (P.A.C.). Mothopeng was elected the national P.A.C. executive who was very instrumental in its organization.

In 1960 Mothopeng was arrested and sentenced to 2 years for his activity in the P.A.C. under the suppression of communism Act. After being released Mr. Mothopeng was rearrested in 1963 and convicted in 1964 for promoting the aims of the P.A.C. . . . He was released in 1967 and was immediately served with a banning order where he was banished to Witsieshoek, in the Free State. In the 1970’s Mothepeng continued doing underground P.A.C. work and together with former inmates a recruitment program was established with P.A.C. in Swaziland. Arrested again in 1976 he was charged and convicted to 15 years in prison for promoting Aims of the P.A.C. . . .

In 1989 Mothopeng was released by F.W. Deklerk and offered positions to return to his former positions but declined. Zeph still kept his same position that even years of prison couldn’t quiet, “The Power of Government should be in the Black Peoples Hand in South Africa.” On October 23, 1990 Mothopeng died at the age of 77 still an activist for political equity of the South Africans.

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