Duma nokwe biography for kids

South African activist and politician (1927–1978)

Philemon Pearce Dumasile Nokwe OMSG (13 May 1927, Evaton – 12 January 1978), known as Duma Nokwe, was a South African political activist and legislator, and served as the secretary-general of the African National Congress from 1958 to 1969.

Education and political career

He was educated at St.

Peter's school in Johannesburg and University of Fort Hare. After graduating with a BSc degree and a diploma in education, he took up a teaching post at Krugersdorp High School.

Active in the ANC Youth League from his university days (he was its secretary from 1953 to 1958) Nokwe was drawn into political action and served a sentence for entering Germiston location without a permit during the 1952 Defiance Campaign.

On leaving prison he was summarily dismissed by the Transvaal Education Department. Subsequently, he went as a member of the South African delegation to the 1953 World Youth Festival in Bucharest, and afterwards toured the