Slumboy from the Golden City

Paul Joseph was a political activist in South Africa who fought against oppression from the 1940s through to the 1960s. He was arrested and banned several times and was one of the 156 people accused of high treason by the Apartheid government in 1956. His story shows how the political and personal aspects of his life were intertwined and how his political actions impacted the lives of those closest to him.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 08 October 2018
Publisher: The Merlin Press Ltd

Paul Joseph, a young Indian man growing up in the racially segregated schools and slums of Johannesburg during the 1930s, was deeply affected by the oppressive conditions of his time. At the age of 15, he committed himself to fighting against oppression and became involved in the African National Congress (ANC) political campaigns. Joseph's involvement in the ANC spanned from the passive resistance inspired by Gandhi in the 1940s to the armed struggle adopted by the ANC in the 1960s. Despite facing numerous arrests and bans, Joseph remained steadfast in his commitment to the cause of freedom. In 1956, he was among the 156 individuals accused of high treason by the Apartheid government, including prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Lilian Ngoyi, Ruth First, and Helen Joseph. Joseph was held in detention following the Sharpeville Massacre, the banning of the ANC, and the imposition of the state of emergency. He was one of the first recruits of UmKhonto We Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, and was put under house arrest and then solitary confinement in the notorious Johannesburg prison known as The Fort. However, his activism did not stop there. Joseph fled South Africa in order to escape the harsh conditions and continue his work for freedom. His story is a testament to the intertwining of political and personal aspects of his life. It highlights the impact of his political actions on the lives of those closest to him, both in South Africa and in political asylum in London. With a keen eye for detail and extensive knowledge of South Africans across racial and class divides, Joseph documented social and political issues in one of the most significant liberation struggles of the 20th century. His writings provide a valuable insight into the struggles and sacrifices made by those who fought against apartheid and for a better future for all South Africans.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 158 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780850367508