Matlhape, ANC veteran

THE founder of the ANC’s Economic Research Unit, Selebano Zacharia Matlhape, was a lifelong fighter for democracy, ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said in a tribute from the African National Congress on Friday.

Matlhape, who was buried on Saturday, was born in Bloemfontein on September 17 1936. He was one of 12 students who travelled by road from South African to Khartoum, Sudan, in 1960.He served the ANC in exile, representing it in various international forums even during study breaks, going on to work at ANC headquarters in Lusaka between 1979 and 1982, and co-found the ANC’s Economic Research Unit.He founded and directed the Netherlands-based South African Economic Research and Training Project on post-apartheid planning and contributed to developing the ANC policy which former the basis for post-apartheid reconstruction and development.On his return to South Africa in 1990, Matlhape co-founded the Mangaung Education and Development Trust.He also helped formulate proposals for socio-economic development in the Free State after the 1994 elections and served in the provincial government as special advisor to successive premiers.- Nampa-SapaHe was one of 12 students who travelled by road from South African to Khartoum, Sudan, in 1960.He served the ANC in exile, representing it in various international forums even during study breaks, going on to work at ANC headquarters in Lusaka between 1979 and 1982, and co-found the ANC’s Economic Research Unit.He founded and directed the Netherlands-based South African Economic Research and Training Project on post-apartheid planning and contributed to developing the ANC policy which former the basis for post-apartheid reconstruction and development.On his return to South Africa in 1990, Matlhape co-founded the Mangaung Education and Development Trust.He also helped formulate proposals for socio-economic development in the Free State after the 1994 elections and served in the provincial government as special advisor to successive premiers.- Nampa-Sapa