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20 Facts About Zwelakhe Sisulu

1.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was a South African black journalist, editor, and newspaper founder.

2.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was president of the Writers' Association of South Africa, which later became the Black Media Workers Association of South Africa, and he led a year-long strike in 1980 for fair wages for black journalists.

3.

Zwelakhe Sisulu's family is well known for its struggle against Apartheid in South Africa.

4.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was the son of anti-Apartheid activists and African National Congress members Walter Sisulu and Albertina Sisulu.

5.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was the brother of Max Sisulu, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Public Service and Administration.

6.

Zwelakhe Sisulu's father was sentenced to life in prison in 1964 when Zwelakhe Sisulu was 13 years old.

7.

Zwelakhe Sisulu began his career in journalism in 1975 when he worked as an intern for South African Associated Newspapers.

8.

Zwelakhe Sisulu then became a journalist for The Rand Daily Mail where he covered the Soweto uprising in 1976 and remained there until 1978.

9.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was news editor of the Sunday Post until his ban in 1980.

10.

In post-Apartheid South Africa, Zwelakhe Sisulu became the head of the South African Broadcast Corporation in 1994.

11.

Zwelakhe Sisulu walked a fine line between journalism and activism already while at The Rand Daily Mail.

12.

Zwelakhe Sisulu's editor admonished him for his explanation that he was making use of his freedom of assembly.

13.

Zwelakhe Sisulu first came to international attention in a case involving the surveillance of black journalists.

14.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was sentenced for nine months in prison for refusing to co-operate.

15.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was the leader of the union during Mwasa's strike for fair wages for black journalists in 1980.

16.

Zwelakhe Sisulu had already been appointed director of the Board for a new organisation ARTICLE 19 at the time of his second arrest 12 December 1986.

17.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was detained at John Vorster Square where other activists were imprisoned.

18.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was released after two years but not allowed to continue his work as a journalist.

19.

Zwelakhe Sisulu was the CEO of the South African Broadcasting Corporation from September 1994 to 1997.

20.

Later, Zwelakhe Sisulu was appointed as a commissioner to investigate censorship at the SABC that had been alleged by whistleblower John Perlman.