African Activist Archive

Patrick Duncan, born in South Africa, was a white supporter of African rights. His active support drew increased attention because his father had served as Governor-General of South Africa from 1837 to 1943. In 1952 he resigned his position in the British colonial service in Basutoland (later Lesotho) and on December 8 led the first group of whites to be arrested as part of the Defiance Campaign for which he was sentenced to 100 days in jail. In 1955 he joined the new-formed Liberal Party. In 1963, after moving to Basutoland, he resigned from the Liberal Party because he no longer accepted its position on non-violence and joined the Pan Africanist Congress. In June 1963, after he was declared a prohibited immigrant in Basutoland, he moved to Algeria where he published a PAC news sheet, a book South Africa's Rule of Violence (1964), and numerous articles. This interview was conducted in September 1954 by George M. Houser, a founder of the American Committee on Africa. This was the only time Houser was able to get into South Africa until 1991. For more information see the authorized biography Patrick Duncan: South African and Pan-Africanist by C. J. Driver. Biographical material source: From Protest to Challenge, Volume 4by Gail M. Gerhart and Thomas Karis.

African Activist Archive

Interview with Patrick Duncan

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Coverage Africa

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Rights Management

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