Mmatumelo Lebjane speaks to Oupa Segalwe, TUT journalism alumnus and the author of the controversial, yet mind-blowing unauthorised biography titled “Lucas Mangope: A Life”.
Oupa Segalwe, Head of Communication and Stakeholder Relations at the South African Weather Service (SAWS) is a journalism and communication expert known for his effective communication skills. Before joining the SAWS, he worked as the Spokesperson for the Office of the Public Protector, SA for about 13 years.
He resigned in 2022 to pursue other career interests, including becoming an author, notably publishing the unauthorised biography titled Lucas Mangope: A Life, which examines the life of Lucas Mangope, former President of Bophuthatswana and his role during the apartheid era. In the book, Segalwe presents a well-researched account of Mangope’s political decisions, his leadership of Bophuthatswana and the complex socio-political environment in which he operated.
The book provides an in-depth exploration of Mangope’s public and private life, focusing on his role as a traditional leader and politician during apartheid, as well as his involvement in the controversial homelands project.
Here’s what he has to say:
1. What inspired you to write about former President Lucas Mangope?
I was born and raised in the same village as Mr Mangope. To me and fellow villagers, he was not just our President under the Bophuthatswana homeland but our traditional leader too. Around the time Bophuthatswana went belly up, I was 10 years old. I recall the conversations back then, both in my household and out on the streets. At home, he was revered and spoken of in glowing terms. Maybe this was also influenced by the fact that my grandfather worked for him. Elders in my family tended to compare him to former President Nelson Mandela, who had been released from prison a few years earlier.
Oupa Segalwe Alumni and Author of Lucas Mangope - A life.
As a youngster, I heard that Mr Mangope had brought development in the form of unparalleled infrastructure, a vibrant economy, jobs, non-racialism and so forth for the people of Bophuthatswana and that Mr Mandela and his comrades were coming to take away all the good things that President Mangope’s Government had done and built. However, further afield in the village, there were mixed reviews about Mr Mangope’s time at the helm of the homeland. People spoke about how high-handed he was and how much of a dictator he was. They also referred to the governance lapses and excesses of his administration. I grew up struggling with this contradiction. In later years, I noticed that South Africa’s political literature tended to tell stories of those who were at the forefront of the liberation struggle. I believe all stories should be told, be they of heroes or villains and the in-betweens.
2. How did your background in journalism influence your approach to this book?
I am one of those journalism graduates who did not practice for long, let alone in the mainstream media. I spent my career as a news reporter in the community media space in Mahikeng and state media (BuaNews). Soon thereafter I joined the bureaucracy, specialising in corporate communication. Accordingly, there has always been this void. I needed to apply the knowledge I acquired in journalism. I saw this book as long-form news story writing. Now I can safely say the void has been filled.
3. What were the biggest challenges you faced while researching Mr Mangope’s life?
One of the biggest challenges was that I could not interview him to reflect on his contentious legacy. I suppose I left it too late. He was already frail when my research commenced. I met with him on two occasions, but I could not get anything out of him. His memory appeared to fail him. I later learned that he had dementia. Accordingly, I relied on secondary sources. However, I needed a lot of patience to get through some of the key sources and had to take the time to establish a relationship of trust. It took quite a long time before they would agree to sit down and discuss. In other cases, I struggled to find some archival information in libraries and archives centres only to stumble upon some by accident while on unrelated business in libraries abroad.
4. What is the most surprising discovery you made during your research?
The fly-on-the-wall account of the goings-on in some of the meetings that took place between President Mangope and the likes of Nelson Mandela and in the Bophuthatswana Cabinet when the pressure was on for Bophuthatswana to fall in line with the rest of the homelands to reincorporate into mainland South Africa. Fascinating stuff!
5. How do you hope readers will perceive Mangope after reading your book?
President Mangope was a polarising figure. His legacy divides public opinion every time. He had as many fervent supporters as he had detractors. The former is blind to his flaws just as the latter dismiss some of his positive attributes. I don't see either changing their minds about him.
6. How do you balance being objective while writing about a controversial figure like Mangope?
I let the principles of truth, accuracy and fairness/balance guide the way I told the story. I also placed emphasis on being frank and honest as I went along.
7. What are your hobbies outside writing?
I read whenever I find the time. I also watch movies and series. I love beautifully told action-packed stories.
Lucas Mangope - A life Book Cover.