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PAC Leader Assassinated: David Sibeko

By VVAW

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), the struggling people of Azania (South Africa) and people around the world suffered a great loss with the assassination of David Sibeko, a founding member of PAC. A press release from the PAC stated:

"The PAC announces with deep sorrow and regret the death of Comrade David Maphumzana Sibeko; Director of Foreign Affairs and the member of the Presidential Council. Comrade Sibeko, aged 40, a founding member of the P.A.C. was assassinated in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on June 12, 1979.

""We hold the white racist regime responsible for the murder of Comrade David Maphumzana Sibeko. He was a man of obvious talent and ability. Who knows what heights would have been attained had he been a free citizen of a normal society? More importantly, on an objective analysis of the assassination of Comrade Sibeko, it is clear that the only beneficiaries of this dastardly act are the Pretoria fascists and their imperialist backers...."

David Sibeko was born in Sophiatown, Johannesburg, Azania (South Africa) on August 26, 1938. He completed his high school education in Johannesburg after which he worked with DRUM and POST, a leading Azanian magazine and newspaper, from 1956 to 1964 as a journalist. He was a founding member of the PAC, and in 1963 he became Regional Chairman and a member of the National Executive Committee. During that time he was also charged on two counts under the oppressive Sabotage Act and accused of plotting to overthrow the state by killing whites and bombing government targets....In 1969 he became the Chief Representative of the PAC Mission to Europe and the Americas, serving in this post until 1975 when he came to the United States to serve as the PAC Representative to the United Nations. He was the first Azanian to address the Security Council at its headquarters in New York in November, 1974.

As Vietnam Veterans Against the War learned more a bout the struggle for freedom in Azania (much of it from Comrade Sibeko and his wife Elizabeth) we came to respect this strong fighter for his people. As our first campaign to collect Fatigues for Freedom Fighters came to a close in 1977, we were honored to present the fatigues to Comrade Sibeko as a representative of his people.

When VVAW heard of his murder, we sent the following telegram:

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY. DAVID SIBEKO WAS A REVOLUTIONARY COMRADE, FRIEND, AND INSPIRATION. WE SHALL MISS HIM, BUT WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO SEE THAT THE STRUGGLE HE HELPED TO LEAD WILL GO FORWARD.

In response the PAC sent the following:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania and the family of the late comrade, David M. Sibeko, express gratitude for your act remembering us at this time of profound grief caused by the untimely loss of our beloved and respected comrade, husband, father and leader. It is soothing to know that we have friends to reinforce our determination to defeat grief and our enemies to continue with Comrade Sibeko's good work. His Spirit shall live in our future efforts. Your message of Condolence is highly valued.

Sincerely,

Vusi Make, Chairman of the Presidential Council and Member of the Central Committee