Harry Gwala
Encyclopedia
Themba Harry Gwala was a firebrand leader in the African National Congress
(ANC) and South African Communist Party
in South Africa
. He was imprisoned on Robben Island
from 1964 to 1972.
He was often seen as a warlord
because of his uncompromising and militant stance in the conflict between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party
in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
, in which many hundreds died in politically-motivated violence.
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
(ANC) and South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was imprisoned on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
from 1964 to 1972.
He was often seen as a warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
because of his uncompromising and militant stance in the conflict between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that lies outside of Pietermaritzburg but before the Drakensberg mountain range....
, in which many hundreds died in politically-motivated violence.