User:ABigalkeGGSB/sandbox

Early Engagement in Politics
Mkhuseli Jack only learned about the apartheid movement reigning in his nation and the ongoing segregating policies used by the National Party when he moved to the big city of Port Elizabeth to proceed with his high school education. The apartheid laws had prevented him of enrolling in a school. By cooperating with local organizations he managed to enroll the school in 1975. He developed as a leader among his colleagues. Later on he instituted and led the Port Elizabeth Youth Congress, part of the United Democratic Front and progressively became extremely involved in the emerging civic movement, he came to form the United Democratic Front on 20th August 1983 composed of trade unions, women's groups and Youth Organizations. The United Democratic Front was an Umbrella Organization which was coordinating other groups like students and women organizations while focussing on local issues. With Mkhuseli Jack actions were strategic and non-violent, it was a new type of action. It’s members encouraged people to get involved in problems that afflicted them directly. The organizations motto: “We’ll support you in what concerns you and you can support us in what concerns us”. The interests of the organization essentially ran parallel to those of the people it worked with. And, via the support they offered, they were in turn able to gain the faith and support of those they had helped. At this time he was active in the South African Students Movement (SASM) and the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM). He came in contact with Barney Pityana, a human rights lawyer and South-African theologian, his wife and other People having interests in human rights. His relation to Barney Pityana shaped Jack’s early political views and career.