Police probe vandalism at Robert Sobukwe’s grave

Police in the Eastern Cape have launched an investigation after vandalism at the grave of anti-apartheid activist and Pan Africanist leader Robert Sobukwe. Sobukwe’s grave in Asherville was discovered vandalised on Wednesday morning, just a few days after community members took to the streets on Saturday in support of therenaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town. The name was officially gazetted on February 6 along with four other towns, includingEast London, which is now KuGompo City, and nearby Aberdeen to Xamdeboo.

The name change had become a contentious issue in the town, with opposition parties, the Freedom Front Plus and the DA, calling for the name change to be revoked. Scores of community members also held a march two weeks ago against the renaming of one of SA’s oldest towns. Sobukwe’s grandson, Mangaliso, said they suspected the vandalism was related to Saturday’s march.

“It is actually ridiculous and it has been ongoing for some years now,” he said. “Previously, we didn’t understand what it was about, but now it looks like someone is opposing the march at the weekend,” he said. Mangaliso said a criminal case had been opened with the police.

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“Hopefully this person will be caught because what they’ve done is extremely ridiculous.” Police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, they had opened a case of desecration or damage of a grave in a cemetery. This will not discourage us from emulating Sobukwe and making sure his name is up there as one of the icons and we’ll take the matter further

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