The Urban Futures Centre (UFC) at DUT held its ninth seminar at the Steve Biko Campus, ESBE Boardroom, on Thursday (5 June 2014).
The seminar was well attended by DUT lecturers and various other stakeholders and allowed better insight into the idea of the new radicals’, young activists in the 1070s which is also the title of a book written by author; Glenn Moss who led the discussions at the seminar in conjunction with Professor Theo Andrew; the Executive Dean of the Engineering and Built Environment Faculty at DUT.
Moss, who was closely associated with the development of radical politics on English-speaking campuses during the first half of the 1970s, leading the ‘Release all political prisoners’ campaign at Wits University in 1974, and planning the ‘History of opposition’ campaign in the same year, served in a range of student leadership positions in the early 1970s. He was the founder editor of Work In Progress and the South African Review. He left publishing in 1996 to become Special Adviser to the first post-apartheid government’s Statistics Department for the next 15 years.
His book tells the story of a generation of activists who embraced new forms of opposition politics that would have profound consequences. In the process, it rescues the early 1970s from previous neglect and shows just how crucial these years were in the struggle to transform society. It explores the influence of Black Consciousness, the new trade unionism, radicalisation of students on both black and white campuses and the Soweto Uprising.
“I have spent years, probably far too many of them, telling stories of political activism in the 1970s over glasses of wine, again probably too many, and suppers often to long suffering friends. As the years went by, I was elevated to the dubious status of being called an ‘elder’, apparently with a long and detailed memory. Members of my political generation began suggesting, possibly I believe in an effort to shut me up, that I should write a book. I procrastinated for as long as possible,” he said.
Prof Andrew holds a PhD in the area of Rural Telecommunications Planning from the University of Natal (now UKZN), and serves as a Specialist Reviewer for the National Research Foundation (NRF). He was heavily involved in education protests during the 1970s as an organiser. He was also leader of the Students Union Christian Association (SUCA). As a result of his activism, he was served with a banning order for five years from working at any key installation.
Prof Andrew and Moss spoke about their very different experiences and roles that they played as students who were part of the political activism during the vibrant 1970s. During this period, students, academics and intellectuals linked to both the ‘black’ and ‘white’ campuses began exploring new ways to understand and respond to apartheid. It was also during this time that Black Consciousness movement came to the fore and real questions emerged as to the role of ‘white’ radical student organisations such as NUSAS in the country’s political struggle at the time.
As conversational as it was, the seminar also showed that South Africa has come a long way. The seminar was more of a walk down memory lane, with leaders such as the late Steve Biko being acknowledged for their leadership.
Prof Andrew also mentioned that there were many student organisations at the time, including religious student organisations which were part of the anti-apartheid struggle.
– Philiswa Xulu
Pictured: Author; Glenn Moss.
