Saw this somewhere and it make an interesting reading ...

'How many of you know who Japhta Masemola is?

How many of you know of his contribution to the South African struggle against apartheid?

How many of you know that he was jailed for almost 27 years on Robben Island and other prisons.

How many of you know that He joined the ANC Youth League in the early 1950s, supporting Mandela and other league leaders in their attempts to set the ANC on a more confrontational road. But when activists led by the late Robert Sobukwe broke away from the ANC in 1959 over the issues of land ownership, socialism, workers' power and other policies, Masemola joined the new Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).

How many of you know that Masemola had been jailed in the notorious Robben Island prison off Cape Town with other nationalists, including Mandela and was believed to be the second-longest-serving political prisoner after ANC Deputy President Nelson Mandela.

How many of you know that He was released on October 15, 1989 and on the eve of his release, Nelson Mandela asked to have a meeting with him. Jafta Masemola was flown from Johannesburg (Leeukop Prison) to Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town and the meeting was held at Mandela's prison bungalow.

Albeit the details of the meeting were never made public, the primary subject on their agenda was believed to have been a unity between these two liberation movements. It was rumoured that Mandela urged negotiations, but PAC leaders rejected it, saying: the time is not ripe because the government is too strong.

How many of you know that when he celebrated his freedom, Masemola told reporters that the PAC, unlike the ANC, would not negotiate with the white government for "what belongs to the people." He declared: "We are not paper tigers. We are the real blood tigers?."

How many know that after he continued speaking against apartheid, he was mysteriously killed in a car crash 7 months after his release?

Are all these mere coincidences?

Are there questions we should not ask?

So how come Nelson Mandela is more popular than Masemola?

How come is it that Mandela is seen as the hero of South Africa struggle to independence and not Masemola?

How come is it that Mandela's 27 years in prison is always mentioned, while Masemola's 27 years in prison is not mentioned?

How come is Mandela globally praised while Masemola is being wiped out of history?

If they actually stood for the same values and fought the same fight, why then did Mandela's tune change towards his end on Robben Island and after''release''?

Why was Masemola's message still deemed dangerous?

Like Malcolm X has said and I paraphrase, "when your enemy suddenly turns around and begins to praise a man, beware of such a man"

Masemola is dead,Mandela is still alive,Masemola was not the actor in the struggle rather a bckborne supporter but Mandela was the architect of the struggle, Mandela is a one time president of South Africa but Masemola was not. The only person US knws was Mandela that was why they enlist his name in their TERRORIST LIST. Tell me why his name will not overshow other participant in the struggle?

The Secret lies in Winnie Mandela who unfortunately has been wiped out from the struggles history .. Her activism just like Kudirat made sure the whole world knew of Mandela,s plight.