Interview Segment

Roseberry Sonto interviewed by David Bailey
2007 Cape Town, South Africa.
"The release of Mandela ... was the last of the indications that we are there." [1:38]

Rose Sonto was one of the members of the delegation who met with Mandela the day before he was released from prison. He tells of being overwhelmed by the experience.

Mzunani Roseberry Sonto grew up in the reserves on the outskirts of Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. In 1969, as a high school student he was the first chairperson of the Moltino African Cultural Youth Association. In the early 1980s, now living in Cape Town, Sonto became president of the Cape Youth Congress, and he helped mobilize support among the youth for the United Democratic Front. He worked closely with the ANC, although it still was an illegal organization. He was part of the delegation that met with Nelson Mandela the day before his release. Santo is now a member of Parliament.

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