Justice “Gizenga” Mpanza (aka “Reuben Nhlabathi”)
Justice “Gizenga” Mpanza (aka “Reuben Nhlabathi”) was born on 5 September 1937 at Groutville Mission, near to KwaDukuza (Stanger). His father was one of Chief Luthuli’s indunas (advisors). Mpanza went to school at Groutville, but was forced to leave after completing Standard 6 because he was ‘too old’. In 1954, he went to Durban looking for employment.
When he first arrived in Durban in 1954, he went to the trade union offices in Lakhani House, where the trade union offices where situated and where he met Stephen Dlamini who was holding discussions about the struggle for liberation. After finding work he attended evening classes on politics from Monday to Friday and mass meetings that were held at Beatrice Street. As a result, he joined the African National Congress (ANC).
Inspired by the Mpondoland Revolt, Mpanza and 13 thirteen others began by burning sugar cane whilst others went to burn forests at kwaNgubomnyama at Harding, Natal, in a campaign that lasted between 1957 to 1959. The campaign was stopped by Walter Sisulu, who argued that their actions would force the government to target the ANC and that people were not prepared for a protracted violent battle with the state.
Mpanza was also part of the group that planned to attack the July Handicap, Durban’s popular horse racing event so as to precipitate an armed confrontation with the state. When rioting broke out in Durban in 1960, Mpa
