Motso Mokgabudi (1)
He was fondly known to one and all as "Obadi". A colourful character of 29, with a great zest for life and playful streak of humour, he had a deep, thoughtful intellect. He came from Orlando, where his mother, a matron in a hospital, worked hard to give him a good education. He studied law at Turfloop, dropped out as a result of student unrest, and turned his capable hands to many things from teaching to installing TV sets in white houses. He became involved in ANC activity with some of his friends and left the country six months before the 1976 uprising.
He learnt easily and quickly, but pondered deeply about political problems. He questioned incessantly. He liked to think things over; to gestate; and then come back for further discussion. He had qualities of leadership and commanded tremendous respect amongst his peers. He epitomised the Soweto generation and radiated their energy, confidence, wit, style, bravery.
He wrestled with the self-same inner contradictions as his fellows; together with them was finding the answers and the path ahead; was maturing and transforming as an individual. He continued to project that township image: the clever slang; the studied "cool"; the attire of skipper, dungarees and tackies. Intellectually he had bounded way ahead but carried with him the challenging stance and optimism of youth.
The two aspects gave him an intriguing personality. His was the spirit that was formed in the schools and colleges; in the township streets and the heady days of "black consciousness"; in the triumphal assaults on master race indoctrination. His was the intellect that Bantu Education could never warp. He was fascinated with the lumpen side of township life because he knew he could easily have escaped into it. Like his generation, however, he responded - perhaps exploded is a better term - with dynamic force to the call of the higher ideals of life. He studied, debated, fought - to clarify within his mind the distinctions and relationship between race and class oppression. It was no easy struggle but when he had climbed those lofty slopes he was confident and relaxed.
He was flushed with pride and joy when he was finally accepted into the (Communist) party ranks. He was a serious and devoted member of his party unit; learning and developing all the time. His contribution to the ANC and the liberation struggle was consequently strengthened and reinforced. It is clear that his development had not been easy. It was not well known that his father had joined the PAC many years ago and had left home whilst Obadi was still very young.
The racist killers lined Obadi and his comrades up outside a house in Matola and machine gunned them down. Obadi staggered away with his guts ripped open. He died in hospital a week later. His mother and sister were at the funeral proud to discover how respected he was. He once said that if he died he would like to be known that he was a communist.
1. From: "Four Who Were Communists: a personal reflection by Alexander Sibeko" in African Communist, fourth quarter 1981.
Mr. Mokgabudi was killed in a raid by South African forces on Matola, Mozambique, on January 30, 1981.
