 FAWU News Release, 4 June 2011 Vuyisile Mini Center, Cnr NY1 and NY110, Guguletu, 7750 - PO Box 1234 Woodstock, 7915; Reg No LR 2/6/2/1348; Tel 021 637 9040, Fax 086 508 6065, [email protected] New building to be named after struggle hero Oscar Mpetha The late comrade Oscar has played an invaluable role in the historical struggle against apartheid and in the trade union movement , where he was a organizer for the African Food and Canning Workers’ Union[AFCWU] , as the union was previously called He worked together with other struggle and trade union veterans of the likes of Ray Alexander and Liz Abrahams. He was a member of the SACP, the ANC, SACTU and played a big role in his local community of Nyanga in Cape Town where he campaigned for decent housing and other amenities. Cde Oscar was banned and harassed under the apartheid regime but carried on working during difficult circumstances. In 1958, he was elected president of the ANC in the W. Cape until the party was banned in 1960. Oscar, with 10 000 freedom fighters was detained in April 1060 under the emergency regulation. After his release in August 1960, Oscar continued to work underground. On 11 August 1980, fire was set to some vehicles by a group of protesters, injuring two whites, who died later on. On 13 August Oscar issued a statement to the press in which he condemned the role of the police in the incident. He was detained together with 18 young freedom fighters. He was held in Pollsmoor Prison dungeon, the same place where Elijah Loza had died. In March 1981, Oscar was convicted of terrorism and after a three-year trial in the Cape Town Supreme Court, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was released on bail pending an appeal. His appeal failed in 85 and he was re-arrested at his Nyanga home to serve his sentence. When FAWU was established in 1986 it accepted cde Oscar as a leader and participated in a national and international campaign for his release. In 86, his wife Rose died and the regime did not allow him to attend her funeral nor of his son Karl. Oscar was only released in October 89 with others Rivonia political prisoners. He spent most of his sentence under armed guard at Groote Schuur Hospital. He was an ill man who had both his legs amputated and moved around in a wheelchair with the aid of his private nurses. Comrade Oscar was happy his wish to see freedom in his lifetime was fulfilled. He voted in South Africa’s first democratic elections in April 1994 to win a government free of race and sex discrimination’’. Comrade Oscar died on 15 November 1994 at his Gugulethu home. For more
information kindly contact FAWU General
Secretary Katishi Masemola on 082 467 2509 or the Eastern
Cape Provincial
Secretary Mbalisi Tonga on 082 493 0806
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