Remove ads
Sefako Mapogo Makgatho (1861 - 23 May 1951) was born at GaMphahlele, in the Pietersburg district in the South African Republic (now Limpopo).[1] He was the son of Chief Kgorutlhe Josiah Makgatho of the Makgatho chieftaincy at GaMphahlele.
Before embarking on a political career, Makgato was a teacher and a journalist. Makgatho joined the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) later renamed the African National Congress (ANC). He became its president at the tail end of World War I, in 1917.
As President of the SANNC, Makgatho worked hard to ensure that the movement remained a key factor in the struggle against segregation. It was during Makgatho’s presidency that the ANC is thought to have become radicalized. In 1917 and 1920 Makgatho ensured that the ANC supported the municipal workers strike and the miners’ strike in Johannesburg.
In 1923 he was forced to step down and was replaced by Z. K. Mahabane. Makgatho remained President of the Transvaal ANC until the mid 1930s and continued to exert considerable influence in the movement.
He died on 23 May 1951 aged 90; the same year, Nelson Mandela's son from his first marriage with his wife Evelyn was born. In paying tribute to Sefako Makgatho, Mandela named his son after him.
Remove ads
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University was named after him.[2] Makgatho was posthumously awarded the Order of Luthuli in gold by the South African government.[1]
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
Remove ads