Nyakane Tsolo

**Michael Nyakane Ramabele Tsolo** (24 July 1939, Kroonstad – November 2002) be anti-apartheid activist den leader for de Sharpeville branch of de Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) for South Africa. He plus ein brother Job Tsolo lead de anti-pass protest wey go reach Sharpeville police station on 21 March 1960. Dis protest end up turn Sharpeville massacre as police open fire on de crowd.

Tsolo die from stroke insyd 2002. People no dey hear ein political legacy like how dem dey know de other PAC leaders wey be ein time people, Robert Sobukwe den Philip Kgosana.

## Early life
Nyakane Tsolo be de sixth kiddie of Lisebo plus Philemon Thokoane Tsolo. Na dem born am for Kroonstad, wey be where he grow up before he move go Sharpeville when he be seven years. He go Sedibe Primary School, den for 1958, he get ein Junior Certificate from Legoshang Secondary School. He work as labourer for African Cables, wey be where he start do trade union work at age 20.

## Politics
Nyakane, plus ein senior brother Job Tsolo den Suzan Tshukudu (wey be Adelaide Tambo ein sister), play key role for founding de Sharpeville PAC branch for 1959. For there, Nyakane come serve as branch secretary.

On 21 March 1960, Nyakane lead de Positive Action Campaign Against Pass Laws march insyd Sharpeville Township, as part of PAC ein nationwide campaign wey Robert Sobukwe, wey be de president of PAC dat time, plan den lead. By around midday, close to 3,000 people gather for front of de Sharpeville police station. Nyakane try negotiate plus de police, say make dem arrest am so dat de crowd go disperse as dem plan. But Sergeant Wessels, wey be de officer in charge, talk sey he no get de power to do am den de cells too full.

Around 1:00 PM, Nyakane try again to talk to de police. By dis time, Colonel “Att” Spengler, wey be one police officer wey people dey fear, don arrive. Spengler tell de PAC leaders make dem call off de protest, den he warn sey if dem no do am, de police for shoot warning shots over de crowd. He order Nyakane den ein people make dem talk to de crowd to go house, but Nyakane reply sey only Robert Sobukwe get de right to give dat order. Spengler then arrest Tsolo straight. As de crowd hear say dem arrest am, dem too start demand say make dem arrest all of dem. Tension come rise, den some stones start fly toward de police. As Lieutenant Colonel Pienaar talk, he tell de police make dem load dem rifles den wait for ein command, but one police officer panic den start shoot without any order, wey make other police officers too start shoot. Total of 168 police officers fire 1,344 bullets into de crowd, kill 69 people den injure 180 others.

Dem carry Nyakane go prison quick-quick, den dat same evening, police raid ein house but dem no find anything important. Dem hold am for one year inside No. 4 of de Fort Prison, wey be where de security police torture am bad. After de one year, dem bring am go court together plus small group of PAC leaders, wey dem charge am for incitement plus public violence, then later release am on bail. Nyakane run go Maseru, Lesotho, where small group of PAC supporters try start new headquarters. From there, he travel go Cairo, wey be where he get military training from Egyptian special forces. Ein exile continue go East Germany, then later Rotterdam, Netherlands, where he represent PAC plus work with local anti-apartheid organizations. Tsolo come back South Africa for short time in 1991, den stand as PAC candidate for de 1994 elections. He stay for Rotterdam till he return home for good in 2001.

## Illness den death
Nyakane die of stroke insyd November 2022 den be buried at Sharpeville.

## References