Sobukwe family lawyers warn PAC leader over request for inquest

PAN African Congress of Azania (PAC) president and Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has been served with a legal letter to withdraw his request to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for an investigation into the death of the party’s founding president, Robert Sobukwe.

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

The letter, which Meliswa admitted knowing, states that 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.

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

There were however suspicions that Sobukwe fell ill after the apartheid regime had fed him food with crushed glass. 

This is among the reasons 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. 

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.

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.

Cape Times