History in Colour: Seminarians March to Union Buildings

by Admin · October 10, 2022

On September 4, 1985, a group of 32 seminarians of St John Vianney Seminary marched on the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against apartheid.

It was only the second-ever successful protest march to the seat of government, after the famous women’s march in August 1956.

The group, which marched with the permission of seminary rector Fr (later Archbishop) William Slattery OFM, handed in a letter of protest, signed by 41 seminarians, to the office of State President PW Botha.

Standing outside the Union Buildings, the seminarians prayed and sung hymns, including “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”. The march took police by surprise and had passing tourists wondering. One puzzled visitor to the country was overheard asking: “Are they for or against the government?”

The group of seminarians included future Bishops Sithembele Sipuka and Victor Phalana, as well as future prominent priests such as Frs Peter-John Pearson (the group’s spokesman), Stanley Khoza, Michael van Heerden, Mkheseni Xulu,

Augustine Khanyile OFM, Lucas Bambezela OFM, Siyabonga Mfayela, Brian Gelant, Mpsebetsi Mokoena, Peter Switala, Mluleki Mnyaka and John Atkinson, as well as Deacon Mulimisi Nekhudzhiga (who died in June this year), Arrie Waterboer, Dr Andrew Johnson and the late Mr Lechamochamo, among others.

This History in Colour was published in the September 2022 issue of The Southern Cross magazine