The Individual, Auto/biography and History in South Africa

fundamental and genuine manner and not as mannequins of the post‐Stalin fashion
parade”. 49
Ironically, in Sihlali’s report on the progress of the youth, he admitted that his own
relationship with Tabata may have been one based on paternalism and patronage, and
that he may have made Tabata his “Father Confessor” or “Sick Comforter”. 50 Tabata,
however, wanted to hear none of this from a member of the movement’s senior
leadership, denying that he occupied this position in Sihlali’s political life, suggesting
instead a relationship of equality and comradeship. He could equally write to Sihlali, he
argued, “pouring out” his troubles, and in that case he would hope that Sihlali would
not turn him into the “pope of the confessional”. For Tabata, the essence of their
relationship was that “we can take both the ups and downs together”. 51
In spite of these claims on equality and reciprocity, Sihlali had found it difficult to secure
Tabata’s approval when he had tried to stake his claim on a position of writer‐educator
in the AAC in 1953. In having argued against Sihlali’s proposal to write and circulate
‘pamphletettes’ which would have served to introduce and mediate Tabata’s major
political writings, Tabata had prevented Sihlali from emerging as a movement educator
and writer in his own right. This was in spite of Tabata’s position as leading author‐
educator of the movement not being questioned, and of Sihlali having asked for Tabata’s
approval within the framework of their patronage relationship. Only Tabata’s reading of
political conditions was permissible and in the process, Sihlali’s expression of political
initiative was rebuffed. It was as if Tabata would not approve of any mediation of his
writings, even by his closest comrades.
Tabata also intervened to set the parameters for making decisions over who would be
available for the presidencies of the AAC and NEUM after Wycliffe Tsotsi had been
ousted from office in the late 1950s. Nathaniel Honono was elected president of the AAC
49 Statement by Hosea Jaffe, 2 October 1956, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
50 Leo Sihlali to I.B. Tabata, 6 February 1957, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
51 I.B. Tabata to Leo Sihlali, 14 February 1957, I.B. Tabata Collection, BC 925.
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