STAT E REPRESSION IN THE 1960S STRUCK DEBILITATING BLOWS AGAINST the liberation movements. In comparison to the campaigns of the 1950s and the intense political struggles that followed the 16 June uprising, the sixties could be described as a period of political quiescence. Such a general description tends to obscure the presence of political opposition, albeit often individualised and short-lived opposition that had only limited impact on the apartheid state. But even when, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, apartheid appeared all-powerful, there were already signs of a new mood of defiance, with the youth of the townships playing a leading role.

An early example of efforts by a new generation of political activists to link up with older activists occurred in the late 1960s and was centred on Orlando West and Diepkloof. A number of key activists who were involved in the Congress Movement, and especially in the trade unions, reached out to younger activists with the aim of re-establishing some semblance of a political presence in the township. Winnie Mandela, Rita and Lawrence Ndzinga, Samson Ndou and Joyce Sikhakhane were some of the people involved. Snuki Zikalala, who lived in Diepkloof and attended school in Orlando, was drawn into this informal network by Winnie Mandela in 1966 or 1967. Others who worked with Zikalala were George Mokwebo and Daniel Tsotetsi, both from Diepkloof, and Joseph Stimulo Banda from Orlando. Over the next few months the older activists attempted to provide these young people with basic political education. Snuki Zikalala was to say: