GB 0101 ICS 127 - GONIWE, Matthew (1947-1985)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0101 ICS 127

Title

GONIWE, Matthew (1947-1985)

Date(s)

  • 1983-1985 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 file

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Matthew Goniwe was born in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in 1947. He attended St James' Primary school and moved on to Sam Xhallie Secondary school, where he obtained his junior certificate.
After leaving school he obtained a teachers' diploma from Fort Hare University and returned to Sam Xhallie school to teach maths and science. In 1974 Goniwe left for a teaching post in Transkei and married Nyameka, a social worker. Matthew's political involvement in Transkei led to his arrest in 1977, when he was convicted under the Suppression of Communism Act and sentenced to four years in Umtata Prison. After his spell in prison, Goniwe returned to teaching in Graaff-Reinet and completed a BA degree through Unisa. He was then transferred to Cradock and appointed the headmaster of Sam Xhallie High. In 1983 Goniwe called a mass meeting to discuss how the community should respond to high rents, and in the same year the Department of Education and Training (DET) tried to transfer him to Graaff-Reinet. This caused teachers and pupils from Cradock's seven schools to embark on a 15-month class boycott - the longest in the country's history.
On 27 June 1985 Goniwe and three other activists, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli were killed and mutilated by unnamed members of the Security Forces.

Archival history

GB 0101 ICS 127 1983-1985 Collection (Fonds) 1 file Goniwe , Matthew , 1947-1985 , teacher and political activist in South Africa

Matthew Goniwe was born in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in 1947. He attended St James' Primary school and moved on to Sam Xhallie Secondary school, where he obtained his junior certificate.
After leaving school he obtained a teachers' diploma from Fort Hare University and returned to Sam Xhallie school to teach maths and science. In 1974 Goniwe left for a teaching post in Transkei and married Nyameka, a social worker. Matthew's political involvement in Transkei led to his arrest in 1977, when he was convicted under the Suppression of Communism Act and sentenced to four years in Umtata Prison. After his spell in prison, Goniwe returned to teaching in Graaff-Reinet and completed a BA degree through Unisa. He was then transferred to Cradock and appointed the headmaster of Sam Xhallie High. In 1983 Goniwe called a mass meeting to discuss how the community should respond to high rents, and in the same year the Department of Education and Training (DET) tried to transfer him to Graaff-Reinet. This caused teachers and pupils from Cradock's seven schools to embark on a 15-month class boycott - the longest in the country's history.
On 27 June 1985 Goniwe and three other activists, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli were killed and mutilated by unnamed members of the Security Forces.

The papers were deposited at ICS by Mrs Goniwe in 1986.

Photocopies of papers of Matthew Goniwe on politics and education in South Africa, 1983-1985, including notes for speeches and articles by Goniwe.

Unsorted

Restricted access: permission of his widow, Mrs M Goniwe required.

Permission of Mrs Goniwe required.
English

Catalogued to item level (see link to repository catalogue).

Not known

The ICS holds a large number of collections relating to South African politics, including African National Congress (ICS 1), Mary Benson (ICS 6), Ruth First (ICS 117), Marion Friedmann (ICS 20), Ruth Hayman (ICS 30)Baruch Hirson (ICS 32), Mandela Trials papers (ICS 52), Josie Palmer (ICS 57), Edward Roux (ICS 67), South African Institute of Race Relations (ICS 95), the University of Cape Town (ICS 81-82)and University of Transkei (ICS 19).

Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition, 2000. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Oct 2001 Anti-apartheid Apartheid Blacks Civil and political rights Cradock Education Ethnic groups Goniwe , Matthew , 1947-1985 , teacher and political activist in South Africa Human rights Interethnic relations Province of the Eastern Cape Racial discrimination Racial segregation South Africa Southern Africa

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were deposited at ICS by Mrs Goniwe in 1986.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Photocopies of papers of Matthew Goniwe on politics and education in South Africa, 1983-1985, including notes for speeches and articles by Goniwe.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Unsorted

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Restricted access: permission of his widow, Mrs M Goniwe required.

Conditions governing reproduction

Permission of Mrs Goniwe required.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The ICS holds a large number of collections relating to South African politics, including African National Congress (ICS 1), Mary Benson (ICS 6), Ruth First (ICS 117), Marion Friedmann (ICS 20), Ruth Hayman (ICS 30)Baruch Hirson (ICS 32), Mandela Trials papers (ICS 52), Josie Palmer (ICS 57), Edward Roux (ICS 67), South African Institute of Race Relations (ICS 95), the University of Cape Town (ICS 81-82)and University of Transkei (ICS 19).

Finding aids

Catalogued to item level (see link to repository catalogue).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition, 2000. National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area