We salute the life of ex Robben Island prisoner, Sedick Isaacs, who passed away at the age of 72 years on 18 October 2012, claimed by the malignant affliction of lymphoma. He was not a dedicated politician, but that by no means detracts from the positive and extremely meaningful life that he led.
As a quiet and unassuming young man he entered the University of Cape Town in 1959 to further his education. This, he saw as his main purpose and he eschewed involvement in the turbulent student politics of the time. After he completed his bachelor’s degree he went on to teach at Trafalgar High School with his basic idea of helping others. But then, the gross ignominy and fundamental injustice of the apartheid system finally became too much for him to ignore. Without any political training, he set out with a small band of students on a defiant act to blow up a local electrical substation. This failed, but the ruling powers deemed that such acts of defiance could not be tolerated and Sedick was given a harsh prison sentence of twelve years.
It was on Robben Island that his full mettle was revealed, as a man of passion for what he believed in. He was instrumental in setting up a sophisticated system of education for prisoners on the island and became its leading member. For himself, he completed a degree in Mathematics and Psychology, as well as a masters degree in Information Systems. He also became legendary in the organization of the prisoners’ soccer league which is well documented in the subsequent film, “More Than Just A Game“.
It also became evident to Sedick that for an existence that was not unnecessarily troubled beyond the hardships that all prisoners had to endure, he needed to belong to an organization. From a limited number of options, he chose the Pan Africanist Congress, but he hardly became active in propagating its ideology. However, he worked closely with another PAC inmate, Jeff Masemola, a genius with his hands, in designing and fashioning a key that could open the prison cell doors. In addition to this, they had also surreptitiously built a raft, hidden at the stone quarry, with which they hoped to effect their escape. The key worked but, unfortunately, in an unforeseen raid and search by the authorities, it was discovered and Sedick was subjected to an added year to his sentence.
After his release he went to work at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town and continued with his studies to gain a doctorate in Epidemiology. At the same time, he also became a key spokesperson in discussions and research seminars organized by the Heritage and Educational departments of Robben Island Prison Museum.
Throughout his life he never sought self-acclaim, always devoting his time and attention to the education of others. In 2010 he completed a book relating his experiences in prison – “Surviving in the Apartheid Prison“, which is well worth reading.
We honour a remarkable and selfless man, who lived his life in the progressive service of his fellow human being.