Member, National Executive Committee, ANC
"The strangest things occurred", was the comment made by the judge, with reference to the court proceeding in the Arnold Stofile case in the Ciskei in 1986.
Stofile was charged with "harbouring terrorists". The court proceedings were certainly dramatic, as one state witness after the other refused to testify or gave contradictory evidence. In an unusual turn of events, even the press and a lawyer were called to the witness stand.
The state had planned its case on alleged accomplices, but ended up having to rely on police evidence. The case culminated in Stofile's receiving an 11-year-sentence for "terrorism". His co-accused Mzwandile Ndlela was jailed for 15 years, and two other co-accused for eight years. Two of the "would be" state witnesses received four years for refusing to testify, three were charged with perjury and two could not be found to testify in court. The case of Arnold Stofile was an inspiring example of solidarity.
Stofile was released by the Ciskei authorities in 1989, in an uncharacteristic gesture of goodwill, after serving only three years.
Prior to his arrest in 1986, Stofile, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church, was a lecturer in Systematic Theology at Fort Hare University in Alice, his home town. He resigned after being sentenced. In his words, "It was impossible to be there and in prison".
Stofile was born and raised on a farm in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape. He entered politics in 1963 as a member of the African Students Association, an ANC front organisation. He later became a key person in the establishment and development of the UDF in the Border region. He is thus well known in both underground and "above ground" politics in the Eastern Cape.
Politics is not the only area in which Stofile has attained great respect, he is also an accomplished sportsperson. In the late '60s and early '70s he was a top rugby player. He was captain of the Border team, playing in the positions of scrumhalf and wing. He was also elected to the Victoria East Rugby Union and to the executive of the Victoria East Council of Sport. Stofile was an early campaigner for non-racial sport. He was a major force behind the progressive South African Rugby Union.
Representing the UDF, he went to New Zealand in 1984 where he led a successful campaign against the planned All Black tour of South Africa. His efforts caused him to be detained for four months on his return home.
When the ANC was unbanned, Stofile was elected to the position of chairperson of Border region.
Stofile is presently lecturing at the University of the Transkei. Holomisa made the following statement on the appointment of Stofile: "It is a breakthrough for the university to appoint people like Reverend Stofile and it is a welcome development that will certainly help the university."
Stofile is married and has three children. He is a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC.