New Age2.png Struggle icon Bram Fischer celebrated Week-long programme will next week commemorate Afrikaner anti-apartheid activist who defended Mandela Kamogelo Seekoei, The New Age, Johannesburg, 15 April 2016 Mangaung municipality will again embark on a weeklong programme to celebrate apartheid struggle icon Bram Fischer. The programme started three years ago in commemoration of this Bloemfontein-born icon who would have been 108 years this year. Fischer was a lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including former South African president Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial. Following the trial he was himself put on trial accused of furthering the aims of communism. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and served 11 years. He was released in 1975 and crippled by brain cancer from which he died two weeks later at his home in Bloemfontein. Fischer joined the SACP in the 1940s and soon rose to leadership positions. The SACP had a close relationship with the ANC and in 1943 Fischer co-authored revisions to the constitution of the ANC. In 1946 he was charged with incitement arising out of his position as a leader of the SACP and the African Mine Workers' strike that year. The municipality said that throughout Bram Fischer Memorial Week, the city would sustain his legacy in order to educate and inspire the entire nation, particularly the youth. Mangaung mayor Thabo Manyoni will officially launch Bram Fischer Memorial Week on Wednesday at the Floreat Hall at Bram Fischer Building in Bloemfontein. Thursday will see Manyoni giving the annual memorial lecture at Boet Troskie Hall, Central University of Technology and the week will end with an 8km fun walk on Saturday. In a previous lecture Manyoni spoke against factionalism and warned the government that it should be mindful of shooting itself in the foot, by allowing factionalism to deepen in its ranks. He said factionalism was the main breed of endemic corruption and created distance between society and the government. His panel comprised National Assembly deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, University of the Free State history lecturer Chicha Twala and the nephew of Fischer, Peter Fischer. All the panellists spoke of the bravery of Fischer. His nephew also spoke about his uncle's humaneness. The Bloemfontein municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, said they were finalising the panel for this year. He said the metro believed it was important to celebrate Fischer's life because it continued to inspire the people of Mangaung. "He is our own icon who decided to let go of all his privileges to serve the downtrodden and marginalised. His legacy continues to serve as an inspiration to the people of Mangaung," Khedama said. [email protected] From: http://tnaepaper.co.za/DRIVE/main%20edition/15042016/epaperpdf/8.pdf -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
