Profiles: Abel Ramarope, 1961-2005, South Africa

Abel Ramarope was a political prisoner from the nationalist Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), who did not receive amnesty in South Africa’s transition to a parliamentary, post-apartheid state. He was in contact with the Anarchist Black Cross, a project of the Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (later, Front), and ran an anarchist study circle in Pretoria. Obituary from ZACF here. Obituary from mainstream media here. Continue reading Profiles: Abel Ramarope, 1961-2005, South Africa

Abel Ramarope (1961-2005): from PAC to anarchism # 2

South Africans we said adieu to in 2005

Independent Online, 3 January 2006, online here

 

Abel Ramarope

1961 – 2005

This former member of the PAC and political activist-turned-anarchist was arrested during the struggle against apartheid and had been a prisoner since then. As an inmate, he formed a clandestine reading and study group on anarchism. He constantly fought corruption in the prison system, which he said was rife. He died in a Pretoria prison while doing time for robbery.

Nokuthula Mashabane

1964 – 2005

This social worker dedicated her life to helping rehabilitate prisoners and to changing their lives after they were set free. Because of Continue reading “Abel Ramarope (1961-2005): from PAC to anarchism # 2”

Abel Ramarope (1961-2005): from PAC to anarchism # 1

Article from Zabalaza, number 7, 2006, p. 26, here.

Remembering Our Fallen Comrades! Another Anarchist Dies in Prison: 

Abel Ramarope, Political Prisoner Turned Anarchist, died September 2005

by Jonathan Payn

“You must be aware that we are victimised by our fear to stand up for what is entitled us as people whether in prison or outside prison. We are firstly determined to challenge any barbaric or tyrannical system if it needs be. Change is a must; and it shall come and be effected by those who needs to see it.

Well we need to be strong even when we face incarceration. We cannot afford to be sacrificed at the expense of the capitalists. We fought for the transformation of this land, and yet we are deprived of the right to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Now our votes are seen as a priority but our release as political activists/prisoners is not important to them.”

Abel Ramarope

It is always saddening to hear of someone dying in a prison, with cold concrete and steel Continue reading “Abel Ramarope (1961-2005): from PAC to anarchism # 1”

“Free Joaquin Cienfuegos” (ZACF/ Anarchist Black Cross, 2008)

2 July 2008 ZACF & THE ANARCHIST BLACK CROSS (SOUTH AFRICA) DEMANDS THAT TRUMPED-UP CHARGE AGAINST U.S. COMMUNITY ACTIVIST BE DROPPED Joaquin has been known to us for some years now as a voice of militancy and reason in the Los Angeles area, working with Cop-Watch LA, Anarchist People of Color, and Revolutionary Autonomous Communities. His arrest at the end of June on a felony … Continue reading “Free Joaquin Cienfuegos” (ZACF/ Anarchist Black Cross, 2008)

Black Alert # 3 – Anarchist Black Cross- South Africa – August 2003

The August 2003 third issue of Black Alert was billed as the publication of the Anarchist Black Cross-Anti-Repression Network (ABC-ARN).  It included a proposal for a formal multi-tendency / non-sectarian ARN, within which the ABC would continue to produce Black Alert as an ARN publication. By this stage, the ABC was a “member collective” of the Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (later Front, the ZACF), formed … Continue reading Black Alert # 3 – Anarchist Black Cross- South Africa – August 2003

Black Alert # 2 – Anarchist Black Cross- South Africa – 2003

Black Alert was the bulletin of the Anarchist Black Cross- South Africa (ABC-SA), a project that was linked to Bikisha Media Collective, Zabalaza Books  and the Zabalaza Action Group (in Durban).  These groups later merged into the Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation (later, Front) in May 2003: more on the ZACF here. Both Black Alert and the ABC-SA continued to operate as a ZACF project. The … Continue reading Black Alert # 2 – Anarchist Black Cross- South Africa – 2003