Revolutionary Papers

Revolutionary Papers is a transnational research collaboration exploring 20th century periodicals of Leftanti-imperial and anti-colonial critical production. Read More

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Cape Peninsula Students’ Union (CPSU)

The CPSU was established in the 1950s. It was affiliated to the Non European Unity Movement (NEUM) in South Africa. It aimed at overcoming racial divisions to forge unity and solidarity among students of different cultural backgrounds. In the 1950’s education had become one of the main terrains of struggle, due to the imposition of Bantu Education. Bantu Education attempted to submit all education to the ideology of apartheid – educating whites for privilege and Blacks for labour. University and high school students would engage in debates on issues from nationalism to armed struggle, liberation movement histories and political approaches to revolutionary struggle. It was at the CPSU that Tillie and Kenny first met people such as Neville Alexander, Dulcie September, Marcus Solomon and Fikile Bam – friends and comrades with whom they would work with in various formations and projects for the rest of their lives.

In the Cape Peninsula Students’ Union we were taught to fight ideas with ideas. We always thought critically. If we agree with you, we do not care whether you are the President or not. If we disagreed, we would say so. We always felt that if people basically were loyal to the party, but had different ideas on how to get to the goal, it was an enrichment.
— Ottilie Abrahams, 1995