Mzwanele Nyhontso's inquest request into Sobukwe's death sparks family backlash

Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, the Pan African Congress of Azania (PAC) president, has been accused of seeking an inquest into the death of the party’s founding president, Robert Sobukwe, without the consent of the Struggle stalwart’s family. 

The family, through lawyers from the Mgxaji Incorporated, has written a letter ordering Nyhontso to halt his request to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the investigation into the cause of the legendary leader’s death.

This controversy arose as the PAC was preparing to hold its elective conference in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, where Nyhontso would be expected to contest to be re-elected. 

Mgxaji Incorporated’s director, Sithembele Lawrence Mgxaji, wrote to Nyhontso on December 5 after being approached by Sobukwe’s only surviving child, Meliswa Sobukwe. 

According to the letter, which Meliswa admitted knowing, the Sobukwe family was disheartened to learn through the media that Nyhontso had initiated the inquest process by contacting the NPA.

“To the family, this unfortunate mishap reflects a complete neglect on your (Nyhontso) part for their inner feelings, given their traumatic experience perpetrated by the white supremacists’ orchestrated murder of the late Mr R. M. Sobukwe and the ever-festering wounds resulting therefrom,” read the letter. 

History reflects that Sobukwe died at the age of 53 on February 27, 1978, after suffering from lung cancer. 

However, according to PAC Secretary-General Apa Pooe, there were suspicions that Sobukwe fell ill after the apartheid regime had fed him food with crushed glass, which was why the party wanted an investigation to dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The lawyers said even if the PAC’s request for the inquest was for a good cause, the party should have consulted the family first.

“To jump into commencing a pursuit of an inquest as you have done without first obtaining the family approval is cold-hearted and betrays the very noble notion of the ideas of Africanism. 

“Our instruction is to request the leaders of the organisation to withhold any action until the family comes into the open with a resolution at an appropriate time on the matter,”  read the letter. 

The lawyers also requested a confirmation from the PAC leaders that it would cease the request for the inquest. 

NPA Communications Director Bulelwa Makeke said the NPA received a request to investigate the circumstances that led to Sobukwe's death and that the matter has been referred to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigative Unit (DPCI) for a preliminary investigation.

She said the NPA had not yet decided whether to conduct an inquest.

“A decision to hold a formal inquest or to apply for the re-opening of an inquest will only be taken once an investigation has been concluded and there is evidence of an unnatural death.  

“A decision to investigate an unnatural death is not informed by any political affiliation,” she said.

Pooe said before approaching the NPA, the PAC leadership spoke directly with Meliswa about the inquest. 

“She accepted, but now we are trying to establish which family members approached the lawyers because there is only one daughter of Sobukwe,” said Pooe. 

He said the party suspected that those who approached the lawyers were Sobukwe’s grandchildren or extended family members. 

However, when approached, Meliswa confirmed knowing the letter, but declined to comment, referring questions to Mgxaji.

Pooe said the inquest would bring justice to the Sobukwe’s legacy since there was no satisfactory explanation for the cause of his death. Sobukwe’s wife, Zondeni Sobukwe, who died in 2018, had previously told the nation that Sobukwe once found glasses in his food.

“We only believe Sobukwe was killed through poisoning, but the purpose of the inquest is to exactly establish why he died. Even if he died of cancer, the investigation will confirm that,”  said Pooe. 

He said before the formation of the Government of National Unity, the NPA had not responded to the PAC’s several requests for the inquest, but after the new government, which the PAC is part of, there was a positive response.

He said the Pietermaritzburg High Court inquest ruling that ANC president Inkosi Albert Luthuli was actually killed by the apartheid operatives and not in a train accident, had encouraged the PAC to press for a thorough investigation into Sobukwe’s death. 

A PAC activist, who claimed to be associated with Meliswa, said the Sobukwe family was psychologically not ready to participate in the investigation.

“During the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission), the late Mama Sobukwe (Sobukwe’s wife) said towards the end of his life, they were feeding him food which had pieces of glass.

“If that matter could not be investigated, then (after the TRC report), when the suspects were possibly alive, what difference is this going to make now.   

“They are saying they would have to attend the inquest, which will take a toll on them. 

“They are not ready for that pain,” he said. 

bongani.hans@inl.co.za