The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

included on the back cover of such edited compilations. 22 These texts, usually with a
formal portrait photograph of Tabata on their covers, came to acquire canonical status
and often constituted the main public evidence of the existence of UMSA and APDUSA
in exile. As we shall see, this work of biographic formation and biographic maintenance
occurred primarily through Tabata’s political and personal relationship with Dora
Taylor.
The telling and retelling of Tabata’s biography became a central feature of membership
of and commitment to UMSA and APDUSA in exile. The learning of a settled narrative
of Tabata’s life seemed to become a key element of younger members’ political lessons
in the movement, and its ingestion a demonstration of members’ political commitment. 23
Members and supporters looked to Tabata to share “gems from his life and his vast
experience”, as well as leadership lessons based on stories about heroic dedication,
steadfast principle and legendary escapades. 24 Tabata’s biography was told as a story of
political challenges and obstacles, and what solutions were fashioned to overcome these.
In demonstrating what they had learnt, some members even exercised appropriate
discretion, knowing when to incorporate overt Marxist elements into their narration,
such as Tabata’s membership of an underground Trotskyist party. 25
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Tabata’s biography was marshalled as an instrument
of sustaining a movement, and as a treasure chest of political lessons of leadership, as
part of the education of younger members. It also came to form the basis of a cult of
22 See for example I.B. Tabata, Apartheid: Cosmetics Exposed (London: Prometheus Publications for Unity
Movement of South Africa, 1985).
23 The extent of biographic knowledge of Tabata’s political life and formation was shown in official
movement obituaries and tributes after Tabata’s death. The degree to which people were schooled in
basic elements of the established biographic narrative was also apparent from interviews with
members (See Norman Traub, ‘I.B. Tabata’ (Obituary), The Independent, 3 November 1990; Interview
with Norman Traub, Leigh‐on‐Sea, 8 March 1992; see also Roger Galant, ‘Tribute at I.B. Tabata’s
Grave’ (Text of Oration at Tombstone Unveiling, Lesseyton, 20 September 1995).
24 Amina Hughes, video interview with I.B. Tabata and Jane Gool, 10 September 1989 (I am in
possession of an audio copy of this video interview).
25 See for example the incorporation of information about the Lenin Club and Workers Party in the
memorial tribute to Jane Gool by Zina Scholtz after Gool’s death in 1996 (Zina Scholtz, ‘Jane Gool‐
Tabata’, Obituary presented at the Memorial Meeting for Jane Gool, Athlone Civic Minor Hall (Unity
Movement of South Africa, 18 May 1996).
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