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Posts Tagged ‘liberation movement’

Bush Radio mourns, Professor William T. McClain (1923-2011)

03/10/2011

One of Bush Radio’s board members and a strong anti-apartheid activist Professor William Tilden McClain passed away on Sunday the 02^nd of October 2011. We at Bush Radio mourn his death.

Professor McClain was originally from a small town inIndiana in the United States, and after his studies served as Deputy Attorney General of Indiana.

His first interest of South Africa began in 1950’s when he went to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the Universityof London. Initially he was going to study Indian or Middle Eastern law, but was drawn to African law. At this time he also followed the Treason Trial in South Africa very closely.

In 1961 he was sent by the University to do research and collect documents in Africa. He drove from Nairobi to Lesotho and visited eight African states, including Swaziland. This is where he met his wife May Vuyelwa Hillary.

Professor McClain had a very close relationship with the struggle movement and its leadership in exile especially Oliver Tambo and Chris Hani. In an interview with a Bush Radio intern two months ago he recalled a story of how he got to give Oliver Tambo his sunglasses. “Oliver and I were on the plane heading for Zambia. Just before we landed in Lusaka, Oliver asked me to give him my sunglasses for disguise and I gave them to him and I never got them back”

He became involved with Bush Radio more than seven years ago and served on the board at the time of his death.

Professor McClain has been described as a leader, mentor and a person who was always willing to give. His guidance and generous heart will be sorely missed by everyone at Bush Radio. He has left a void which no one can fill. Our condolences go to his wife, children, extended family and his friends.

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Johnny Issel: Everything that was noble in the Struggle

24/01/2011

Bush Radio is joining many organisations and individuals in paying tribute to the memory of Johnny Issel (born 17 August 1946 – 23 January 2011) who passed away on Sunday the 23rd January 2011.

We will be airing a discussion with Mr Issel tonight 24 January 2011 at 8pm on 89.5 FM.

A mentor to many, Mr Issel was one of the greatest organisers in our struggle against apartheid; a teacher, a student activist, a trade union and community organiser, one of the founders of Grassroots and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

We feel the words of those closest to him can best summarise what he meant to those that knew him.

Click on a name below to hear the thoughts of some of the people who attended his funeral today (24 January 2011) in Kensington.