Popo MOLEFE

Chairperson, National Elections Commission, ANC
Member, National Executive Committee, ANC
Member, National Working Committee, ANC

Popo Molefe was born in 1952 in Sophiatown, Johannesburg. From a young age he experienced the realities of poverty and oppression in South Africa. His father, a labourer, and his mother, a domestic worker, supported eight children on their meagre income.

The young Molefe lived with his aunt. He recalls instances of being harassed by white children, when he visited her in the white suburb where she worked. In the township, he witnessed police brutality in the many liquor and pass raids.

His childhood experiences convinced him of the need for change in South Africa. He has an impressive history of activism. In 1973, while still at school, he joined the Black Peoples's Convention (BPC). In 1974 he joined the South African Students' Union (SASU), playing an active role in planning activities on June 16 1976.

A founder member of AZAPO, Molefe served as chairperson of the Soweto branch between 1979 and 1980. Involved in the establishment of the Soweto Civic Organisation, he served on the civic's executive, known as the Committee of Ten, between 1982 and 1984.

Having started his political career in black consciousness organisations, Molefe began to be convinced that there was space for whites within anti-apartheid organisations. He was greatly influenced by Joe Gqabi and Nelson Mandela.

Molefe resigned from AZAPO in 1981. He participated in the formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1983. He was elected to secretary of the Transvaal region and later served as national secretary. Except for time in prison, Molefe was involved in all the UDF campaigns, something of which he is proud.

Molefe was first detained in August 1976, and held for seven months. He was arrested in 1981 and 1984. In 1985 he became involved in a lengthy trial when 22 activists were arrested and charged with terrorism, high treason, subversion, five counts of murder, and promotion of the objectives of banned organisations, the ANC, SACP, COSATU. "Everything and anything they could think of," says Molefe. Bail was denied during the three and a half year trial. Molefe received a 10- year jail sentence, overturned by the Supreme Court in 1989.

In 1990 Molefe was elected chairperson of the ANC Alexandra branch. The same year, he was elected deputy chairperson of the PWV region of the ANC. In July 1991, he was elected to the national working committee and the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC, positions he still holds.

From August 1991 to June 1992, Molefe was involved in building structures within the ANC. He was appointed chairperson of the 80th Anniversary Celebration Committee of the ANC. In June 1992 Molefe became chairperson of the national elections commission of the ANC.

Molefe's vision of a just society is one where there is freedom of association and expression, where cultures, religions and languages of all groups are protected. He believes it is vital to ensure that the economy is not dominated by a small group of capitalists and argues that strict control of monopoly industry should be enforced.

A practising Christian, Molefe has always played an active role in religious organisations. He is married to Boitumelo Elizabeth Plaatjie and has four children.