Selope Thema

Richard Victor Selope Thema(1886-1955) was a South African political activist and leader. He was a member of the South African Native National Congress deputation sent to Britain and Versailles in 1919 to intercede on behalf of black South Africans, many of whom had fought for Britain in the First World War ^[1]

Early years

Richard Victor Selope Thema was born in Ga-Mamabolo, Pietersburg district, in 1886. Both his parents were Pedi speaking but not originally belonging to the Mamabolo tribe who, through early contact with missionaries, were already Christians.^[2]

Thema attended mission schools, he interrupted his education when he ran away from school in 1901 and joined the British troops stationed in Pietersburg during the South African War (1899 - 1902). After peace was declared he went to Pretoria where he first worked as a waiter in a boarding-house and then at the Imperial Military Railway Dispensary in Pretoria. In 1903 he resumed his education. From 1906 to 1910 he studied at Lovedale Institution at Alice in the Eastern Cape where he completed the Junior Certificate in 1907 and then qualified as a teacher.^[3]

Political career

From the end of 1910 he taught in the Pietersburg district for a year, but then started working as a clerk, first at the Pietersburg mine recruiting office for three years, and from 1915 in Johannesburg in the office of the attorney Richard W. Msimang. Msimang was chairperson of the committee that had to draw up a new constitution for the South African Native National Congressd (SANNC) .^[4] Thema acted as Msimang's secretary on the committee. This led to Thema's increasing involvement in the affairs of the congress and in 1915 he was elected provincial secretary of the Transvaal branch of the SANNC. Thema was also known for his writing abilities.^[5][6]

Legacy

Kwa-Thema township outside Springs was named after him, as well as the Selope Thema Community School in Orlando East.^[7] 

References

African National Congress
History
Leaders Secretary-General 1912–1915 S. T. Plaatje 1915–1917 R. V. S. Thema 1917–1919 S. Msane 1919–1923 H.L. Bud-M'belle 1923–1927 T. D. Mweli-Skota 1927–1930 E. J. Khaile 1930–1936 E. Mdolomba 1936–1949 James Calata 1949–1955 W. M. U. Sisulu 1955–1958 O. R. Tambo 1958–1969 P. P. D. Nokwe 1969–1991 A. B. Nzo 1991–1997 M. C. Ramaphosa 1997–2007 K. Motlanthe 2007–present G. Mantashe President 1912–1917 J. L. Dube 1917–1924 S. M. Makgatho 1924–1927 Z. R. Mahabane 1927–1930 J. T. Gumede 1930–1936 P. ka Isaka Seme 1937–1940 Z. R. Mahabane 1940–1949 A. B. Xuma 1949–1952 J. S. Moroka 1952–1967 A. J. Lutuli 1967–1991 O. R. Tambo 1991–1997 N. R. Mandela 1997–2007 T. M. Mbeki 2007–present J. G. Zuma Deputy President 1952–1958 N. R. Mandela 1958–1985 O. R. Tambo 1985–1991 N. R. Mandela 1991–1994 W. M. U. Sisulu 1994–1997 T. M. Mbeki 1997–2007 J. G. Zuma 2007–2012 K. Motlanthe 2012-present M. C. Ramaphosa
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