Nkosazana Dlamini: The ANC is the Answer
In March 1977, Nkosazana Dlamini, the Vice President of SASO (South African Students Organisation) and a member of the African National Congress (ANC) underground inside South Africa was interviewed by Sechaba, the official organ of the ANC of South Africa. When she escaped the country, Nkosazana was the only member of SASO’s executive not in detention. Dlamini was interviewed while she was representing the Movement in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, where she was describing the development of political consciousness among the youth of South Africa and the common stand on a number of contemporary issues. The following are excerpts from her interview:
QUESTION: The ferment among young people reached a head just as exams were coming close. Did you not feel worried about getting politically active at this time, and upsetting your exams?
DLAMINI: Well, when the June incidents came, I was already involved. In fact, they broke in the middle of our half-yearly exams – but all the students decided they were not going to continue. I just found myself getting on with my political work. I knew that if it came to the crux, I would have to leave the country. But there was no point in leaving what I had started just for a degree. Even if I passed the degree, I would still suffer the same oppression. It was a feeling that to make something of education – or anything else – there must be a complete political change. We all felt that we
