Alan Pearce : A Guerilla Against The Apartheid Regime

IT IS WITH SADNESS THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE FALL OF OUR BRAVE ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST; ALLAN PEARCE HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE, THREE DAUGHTERS AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS. REST IN PEACE; SON OF THE SOIL

"It is the duty of youths to war against indiscipline and corruption because they are the leaders of tomorrow." Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha

The aftermath of the events of June 16, 1976, had dire consequences for the Apartheid government. Images of the police firing on peacefully demonstrating students led to an international revulsion against South Africa as its brutality was exposed. This gave rise to the weakened and exiled liberation movements receiving new recruits fleeing political persecution at home and giving impetus to the struggle against Apartheid. Alan Pearce was part of the new militant culture that emerged as a result of the harsh apartheid policies that were implemented by the white minority government, and as a direct result of the 16 June 1976 Uprisings in Sowetu. These revolts developed a ripple effect throughout South Africa.

Alan Edward Pearce was born in the suburb of Seacowlake in Durban in 1961, to William and Marie Pearce. He and his six siblings all had a happy childhood. However, because of the imposition of the Group Areas Act of 1950, the family was relocated to Wentworth in 1972. Under the Group Areas Act the cities and towns of South Africa were divided into segregated residential and business areas. Thousands of Coloureds, Blacks, and Indians were removed from areas classified for white occupation. The horrendous Group Areas Act maintained this residential segregation through harsh policies and police brutality. Pearce's paternal grandfather, who was white and against the government's racist policies, chose to relocate with his wife and family to Wentworth. Pearce recalls despondently the time when his grandfather entered a white- only bar to have a drink, and he had to wait outside, because he was Coloured.

The township of Wentworth soon deteriorated with rising unemployment, gangsterism, drug abuse, physical decay and overcrowding. In order not to be identified as a member of the Woodstock Vultures, a local gang which was formed during the turf wars among the youth during the 70s and 80s, Pearce moved from his family home in Woodstock to live with his maternal grandmother in Ogle Road, which is also in Wentworth.

Raised by his parents to believe was equal, Pearce increasingly frustrated with the racist character of apartheid's oppression, and segregation policies that subjected Black people to indignity and inferiority. This and the blatant racism experienced by the majority of South Africans, led to Pearce 's political consciousness being riled up. So, on meeting like-minded friends like, Robert Mcbride, Gordon Webster, Antonio Dupreez, Greta Apelgren, Sihle Mbongwe, Guy Mlamba, Derrick Naidoo, Mathew Le Cordier, Derrick Mcbride and other comrades, the plan to make the apartheid regime ungovernable arose. Little did this oppressive regime realize that their harsh racial policies had opened spaces for political allegiances, solidarity and friendship among the marginalized races that would ultimately contribute critically to the apartheid regime’s demise.

In the mid 80s, with Robert Mcbride as commander, Pearce and other comrades began their mission to overthrow the Apartheid regime by sabotaging their vital Infrastructure. Mcbride first taught Pearce how a hand grenade works; how to detonate it after pulling the pin, and how long it would take before the hand grenade would explode when you let go of the device. He also instructed him about limpet mines; how to put a detonator into it, and also how to put a timer into it. He was also told that he would receive training as an MK Cadre out of South Africa. They were recruited as and attended UDM and UDF meetings. The United Democratic Front Meetings and the Wentworth youth projects were held at the Allan Taylor Residence in Tara Road.

Their first attack, as instructed by Mcbride, was on Fairvale Secondary School. At the time, Pearce and Matthew Lecordier were attending night school at Fairvale. The school was a prefab building, and already falling apart.

Earlier that evening, Mcbride and another comrade left petrol at the school premises. Later that evening Mcbride, Lecordier, and Pearce met and went to the school to carry out the operation.Whille Pearce and two other Comrades kept guard, Mcbride and another comrade broke the window of the school in order to enter the classroom. After the petrol was spilled, they left one comrade who was to light the match and throw it into the classroom to set it alight. This comrade was chosen as he was the fastest and the fittest and could retreat from the scene of the sabotage easily.The next day Pearce learned that the school had suffered damages arising from the arson, but the damages were not serious

For the next assignment, Mcbride and Lecordier advised Pearce that they would pick him up at 1.00am as there was something they needed to do. On picking Pearce up, they drove to New Germany. It must be considered that they operated on a strictly need-to-know basis,and at this stage, Pearce was not aware of the mission at hand. This discipline was explained to Pearce by Mcbride and they had to strictly adhere to this.The reconnaissance of the area was first carried out, the route was checked out and it was established that there were no roadblocks. They returned to Wentworth, where Mcbride picked up two limpet mines.The arranged plan was that Robert would stop on the freeway, whilst Lecordier and Pearce would get out and climb up the bank. They each carried a limpet mine which was given to them by Mcbride. The plan was that Mcbride would go to the next turnoff and return to the other side of the freeway.

Pearce and Lecordier got out of the vehicle and approached the pipes. Having certain difficulties with the pipes, Lecordier suggested that they place the limpet mines on the valves, instead. They did so- pulled the pins and left, returning down the bank, where Mcbride had left them.

The next day Pearce learned that the limpet mines had exploded. There were no persons injured or killed in this operation.

Shortly after June 1986, Lecordier gave Pearce two limpet mines and one hand grenade and requested that he stash them away safely. He said he would later discuss with him as to what he was to do with them. Subsequently, Pearce was arrested in 1986. The hand grenade and limpet mines were buried by him behind a shopping center. Under duress by the security police, these were all later discovered and removed.

Pearce was arrested under the internal security act which gave the apartheid government powers to ban or restrict organizations, publications, people and public gatherings, and to detain people without trial. He was also charged for possession of illegal arms and ammunition. During arrests detainees were harshly interrogated, and sometimes even murdered by the security police. Having been arrested in the past for misdemeanors related to self-defense against local gangs, Pearce was already accustomed to police brutality, so he was able to tolerate the beatings and torture. This was not so for other Comrades, who succumbed to the torture, and turned state witness against their comrades. To this day Pearce understands their predicament and does not hold it against them.

Initially, Pearce, together with other comrades was held at Westville Prison in Durban, after which they were transported to Robben Island under strict police guard. Their journey to Robben Island was rigorous to say the least.

On a cold day in June 1986, Pearce and his comrades arrived at, (The Alcatraz of South Africa) which is about seven miles off Cape Town 's coast. It is a waterless, arid patch of land, surrounded by shark-infested waters. During the apartheid regime, it was used by the South African Governments as a place of imprisonment for non-white political offenders. Pearce would spend over three years there, until his release in June 1990. He has since been pardoned by the and Reconciliation Commission for his role in the ultimate demise of apartheid in South Africa.

Pearce laments: "As anti-apartheid activists, die-hard members of the ANC, we were devoted to the cause. We as comrades became brothers, and we would die for each other. I did not even care about romantic relationships, as I was prepared to die for the freedom of the masses. Our fight was not just for one population group, but for all South Africans. Now all I hear about the current government is mismanagement and corruption, and fruitless expenditure, while loyal veterans of the struggle for freedom are completely disregarded. My two daughters, after matric, were unable to study further, as their application for the bursaries were unsuccessful. They were even turned away when they tried to enlist into the army. I have one more daughter who is currently in matric, and my fear is that she is destined for the same fate as her sisters. Millions are still living in poverty and violent crime remains at an extremely high level. We, the youth of 1976, fought for freedom so that the youth of today would have an easier life than we did. Was that all in vain?"

There is no question that the youth of 1976 left an indelible mark that echoes to this day, and Pearce and his comrades were the prominent youth who made history based on their vibrancy and passion for a free and peaceful South Africa. Robert Mcbride, Gordon Webster,Antonio Dupreez, Greta Apelgren, Mathew Le Cordier, Sihle Mbongwe, Guy Mlamba, Jude Francis, Derrick Naidoo, to mention a few were all youths when they led the struggle for the freedom of South Africa. Their active participation in politics at that time in the country changed many things in the political landscape of South Africa. Their concerted efforts gave birth to the current democratic South Africa.

Lorraine Richards