Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Born in April 1927 at Mapoka village in the North East District of Bechuanaland (now Botswana), Knight Maripe started his education at the local community primary school before proceeding to the Dombodema Mission School in Plumtree District of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1946 he finished standard six at Tonota, in the Central District of Bechuanaland, and then went on to the Ohlange Institute in Natal Province, South Africa, where he matriculated in 1951. Ohlange Institute was established by the mission school-educated John L. Dube after his return from America in 1899. Dube was one of the founders of South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) . Ohlange's aim was to provide African youths with training in practical skills so that they could be of service to their own communities. After matriculation Maripe found employment as a clerk in the African Department of Rhodesia Railways, subsequently joining the Bulawayo-based Rhodesian Railways African Workers Union (RAWU). RAWU operated in both Northern and Southern Rhodesia and had a combined membership of 22,000. Maripe moved quickly up the RAWU ladder, being appointed first organizing secretary, then assistant secretary general, then full secretary general. In 1956 Maripe organized a successful railway strike, bringing the railway system in both Rhodesias to a complete halt. The strike was reported to have been 100 percent ... log in or subscribe to read full text