28 September 2004
The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes this week's announcement by the University of Stellenbosch that it will be awarding the late Bram Fischer an honorary doctorate. Bram Fischer was born in Bloemfontein in 1908, the son of an eminent Afrikaans family. His grandfather, Abraham was the prime minister of the Orange River Colony, and his father, Percy, was a Free State Judge.
An outstanding sportsman and student, Bram won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford. In 1942 he joined the Communist Party of South Africa and remained a member until his death in 1975.
From 1935 Bram practised as a lawyer at the Johannesburg Bar. In the 1950s and early 1960s he was a QC for the defence in many of the more prominent political trials, including the Treason Trial. As part of the underground leadership of MK, Fischer was fortunate not to have been at Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia when most of the leadership was arrested. Undeterred, he bravely took the risk of appearing for the Rivonia accused at their trial. In 1966 he, too, was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released into the custody of his brother shortly before he died in 1975.
Bram Fischer was always deeply proud of his Afrikaner roots and heritage. He saw no contradiction between the republican and anti-imperialist traditions of his Free State family, and his own espousal of communism. In making this award, the University of Stellenbosch is acknowledging the diversity of origins out of which outstanding South Africans have committed themselves to a common struggle.
CONTACT
Mazibuko Kanyiso Jara (surname Jara)
Head of the Office of the General Secretary
South African Communist Party
Tel - 011 339 3621, Fax - 011 339 4244/6880
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za, sacpho@wn.apc.org (alternate)