Now You Know How Mapetla Died: The story of a Black Consciousness martyr

by Zikhona Valela

Mapetla Mohapi was a leading member of the Black Consciousness Movement, and the first to die in detention in 1976. Police produced a 'suicide note'. The note was later confirmed by a British expert as a forgery. Since then, his wife Nohle has worked tirelessly for justice.

Zikhona Valela traces the politics of the time, the convergence of biographies that led to the brutal and tragic death of Mapetla Mohapi, and the effects on Nohle and the Mohapi family.

A shocking and necessary book.

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2022

About the author

Zikhona Valela is an historian. She has contributed writing for various publications including New Frame, The Johannesburg Review of Books and the Mail & Guardian. She holds a Master of Arts in History from Rhodes University. This is her first book. She lives in Johannesburg.

Reviews

[Fatima Moosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

very important read

[Nkosana Zali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a story of one of the most dedicated sons of Africa whose life was cut short in 'her' prime, and whose death stands as a monument to courage. His, Mapetla Mohapi's, death also stands as something almost hostile to the mind - i.e. what do you do when one of your family leaves the world of the living under mysterious circumstances? Do you forget...just forget? Mapetla's death is also one of many pages in the list of atrocities perpetrated by the apartheid system, because it was bold as it was brazen for no one would tell it otherwise. This book plods through his life and treats it with so much respect as it asks of the new dispensation very probing and discomforting questions. It almost feels like it questions the very liberation of South Africa, itself. Written by a promising historian, the book restores hope for those who are despondent about the future of South Africa (even the continent of Africa). None of us will live and die in vain, no more, for scribes are at the ready to capture our dreams for posterity and, if you so prefer, for eternity. Africa will never be hidden anymore. And Mapetla Mohapi's story will have to be concluded differently than is suggested by the prevailing circumstances around it, at present. A great read!

[Robin Moukoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important read !

[Maphuti Langa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my reading life one of the things I had to humbly accept is that I know very little about the history of my own home country. (We focused on history of other countries in school in particular European history), thus I picked up this book.
The book is about Mapetla Mohapi the martyr and one of the leading members of the Black Consciousness Movement, making him the first person to die in detention in 1976. The author traces some of the key events leading up to his death and the brutal and cruel abuse he suffered at the hands of the apartheid police.

It is never easy reading an account of history such as this one because you get the sense that Mohapi’s life was cut short in the prime of his time having recently graduated in 1973 with a Social work degree. They are more questions than answers about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, as the police forged a suicide note. I enjoyed how the book gives a perspective of the man behind the headlines , reminding us that he was a husband, father and friend. Zikhona does a great job of writing humanity into Mohapi as he wa often disgraced and stripped of his dignity whilst in detention. The detailed account of his widow Nohle Mohapi’s perseverance and fight for her late husband’s justice is something that is commendable, which is why it is heartbreaking that his family still does not have closure as to what exactly happens to him.

This brings to mind once again the importance of telling our own stories, mostly important documenting it in order to preserve it for future generations. Because whilst the author as a historian did amazing research to write this book, they are still have knowledge and information gaps that prober archives could have solved. No more should any one of our people die without clarity and accountability for the perpetrators.

I learned so much on the history of the Black Consciousness Movement and the crucial role that Mohapi played, this felt like some of the dots connecting after reading Steve Biko’s “I write what I like “ this year. The book was written with clarity and poise for such a sensitive topic without shying away from the difficult questions.