Ben Turok
| Ben Turok | |
|---|---|
| Born |
26 June 1927 Latvia |
| Nationality | South African |
| Occupation | Anti-apartheid activist, Economics Professor, Member of parliament |
| Known for | Member of the African National Congress |
Ben Turok (born 26 June 1927) is a former anti-apartheid activist, Economics Professor and former South African member of parliament and a member of the African National Congress.
He was born in Latvia in 1927 and came with his family to South Africa in 1934. He graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1950. Returning to South Africa in 1953, he joined the South African Congress of Democrats and in 1955 became its secretary for the Cape western region, acting as a full-time organiser for the Congress of the People. He was the African representative on the Cape Provincial Council.[1] He is the father of Neil Turok, a cosmologist, and founder of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Muizenberg, South Africa. Turok was instrumental in helping draw up the Freedom Charter and also served time in jail under apartheid.[2]
References
- ↑ Kiloh, Margaret; Sibeko, Archie (2000). A Fighting Union. Randburg: Ravan Press. p. 43. ISBN 0869755277.
- ↑ http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/non-vote-mp-faces-anc-wrath-1.1185357
External links
- Ben Turok's Personal website
- South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid - Building Democracy See a 56 min video interview of Ben Turok in 2006 recounting his participation in the struggle against apartheid and other topics, e.g. religion and the struggle.
- South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid - Building Democracy Read a brief biography of Ben Turok from South African History Online
- Archives of Ben Turok at the University of London