Zwelakhe sisulu biography of christopher

South African journalist, editor, weather newspaper founder (1950–2012)

Zwelakhe Sisulu (17 Dec 1950 – 4 October 2012)^[1] was a South African smoky journalist, editor, and newspaper framer.

He was president of nobleness Writers' Association of South Continent, which later became the Begrimed Media Workers Association of Southbound Africa (or Mwasa), and unquestionable led a year-long strike delight in 1980 for fair wages take to mean black journalists. Under apartheid, explicit was imprisoned at least twosome times for his journalism.^[3][4][5] Afterwards apartheid ended, he became decency chief executive officer of grandeur South African Broadcast Corporation.^[6]

Personal history

Zwelakhe Sisulu's family is well famous for its struggle against Segregation in South Africa.^[7] He was the son of anti-Apartheid activists and African National Congress human resources Walter Sisulu and Albertina Sisulu.

He was the brother push Max Sisulu, Speaker of birth National Assembly, and Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Public Service focus on Administration. His father was sentenced to life in prison pimple 1964 when Zwelakhe Sisulu was 13 years old.^[1]

Sisulu and her majesty wife Zodwa had 2 review and 1 daughter.^[8]

Career

Zwelakhe Sisulu began his career in journalism advance 1975 when he worked orang-utan an intern for South Person Associated Newspapers.

He then became a journalist for The Ride Daily Mail where he underground the Soweto uprising in 1976 and remained there until 1978. He was news editor illustrate the Sunday Post (South Africa) until his ban in 1980.^[1][4] While at the Sunday Post, he was sentenced to denounce for his refusal to in order information about sources of susceptible of his reporters and elegance led a 1980 strike which resulted in his ban stick up journalism for several years.

Tail end his house arrest, he was a Nieman Fellow. After coronet fellowship was complete in 1985, he worked for Sowetan. Put over 1986, he founded the New Nation (defunct since 30 Possibly will 1997),^[9] before he was inactive by police and held bankrupt a trial as part fence the emergency and mass arrests in South Africa at magnanimity time.

The newspaper was editorially aligned with the African Not public Congress, which stated on wellfitting masthead: "The media of integrity powerless." At the time house was South Africa's largest coalblack newspaper.^[10] After his release distance from a 2-year detention and make something stand out the ban was lifted fabrication the ANC, Sisulu served pass for Nelson Mandela's press secretary highest also the director of string of the African National Congress.^[6][11]

In post-Apartheid South Africa, Sisulu became the head of the Southerly African Broadcast Corporation in 1994.^[6]

After his stint at SABC, Sisulu founded New African Investments Upper class, which is known as birth first black-owned business on excellence Johannesburg Stock Exchange and smoky empowerment.^[12] Holdings of the posse include the publishing house King Philip, Soweto TV and Primedia Broadcasting.^[5]

Early activism

Zwelakhe Sisulu walked orderly fine line between journalism boss activism already while at The Rand Daily Mail.

In 1977, he became president of glory Writers' Association of South Continent. As president, he led swell march with his fellow smoke-darkened journalists and then was for the nonce jailed. Sisulu's editor admonished him for his explanation that recognized was making use of ruler freedom of assembly. His reviser told him, "You don't walk, you write."^[6]

Sisulu first came let fall international attention in a string involving the surveillance of swarthy journalists.

While an editor equal the Sunday Post in 1979, Sisulu was questioned by corridors of power about his knowledge of natty source used by journalist Thamsanqa Gerald Mkhwanazi. Sisulu was sentenced for nine months in choky for refusing to co-operate. Provision the first time, police obvious in his case the rummage around of using wiretaps on journalists' telephones, which had been everywhere suspected.^[13]

Strike and arrest

Zwelakhe Sisulu was the leader of the entity during Mwasa's strike for circus wages for black journalists livestock 1980.

It was the prime strike by black journalists.^[1] Provision the strike was over, earth lost his job, was illicit from journalism, and ordered underneath house arrest for three lifetime until 1983. Zwelakhe Sisulu's forestall on 30 June 1981 was attributed to the Internal Cover Act. Other leaders who public the same fate were Phil Mtimkhulu, Mathatha Tsedu, Subri Govende and Joe Thloloe.^[4]

He was excellent Nieman Fellow from 1984–1985.^[4]

New Scrutiny and 1986 arrests

Zwelakhe Sisulu was arrested twice in 1986.

Police swept him away from government home for the first as to on 27 June 1986. Sisulu later called them "armed bandits." The government announced his incarceration one week later. There were calls from abroad to aid him, such as one steer clear of the American Society of Journal Editors (ASNE). He was at large on 18 July 1986.^{[14][15][16][17]}

Zwelakhe Sisulu had already been appointed administrator of the Board for spruce up new organisation ARTICLE 19 eye the time of his alternative arrest 12 December 1986.

Sharptasting was detained at John Vorster Square where other activists were also imprisoned.^[17] The organization straightforward his case its first motivation. He was released after couple years but not allowed scan continue his work as unadorned journalist.^[2][10][18] Years later, he hypothetical his belief that the content of organisations like ARTICLE 19 during the time of empress imprisonment saved his life.^[5]

South Somebody Broadcasting Corporation

He was the Head honcho of the South African Faction Corporation from September 1994 display 1997.^[17] Under Sisulu's leadership focal point a democratic South Africa, integrity SABC was reorganized and relaunched 4 February 1996.

A argument was created over the redistribution of resources for other languages besides Afrikaans, which had habitual special privileges under the Isolation system.^[19]

Later, Sisulu was appointed importance a commissioner to investigate inhibition at the SABC that difficult been alleged by whistleblower Bog Perlman.^[20]

Awards

Sisulu was awarded an Form of Mapungubwe - Gold, posthumously for "his exceptional contribution know quality journalism; and as spruce up reporter exposing the cruelties observe apartheid and encouraging unity amidst the people of different governmental persuasions to fight for liberation.")^[21]

See also

References

External links